RoughRiders close out 3-for-3 weekend by blasting Waterloo

CEDAR RAPIDS - Quite a weekend for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

They completed a three-for-three stretch with a commanding 5-1 win over Waterloo on Saturday night at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Matt Filipe had a pair of goals and goaltender Ben Blacker made 39 stops as Cedar Rapids (12-6-1-0, 25 standings points) won for the fourth straight time and moved into a tie for first place in the United States Hockey League's Eastern Conference. The RoughRiders have won five of six.

Filipe opened the scoring by chipping home a centering feed from Cal Burke with 26 seconds left in the first period. It was a short-handed goal.

Hugh McGing scored on the power play early in the second for a 2-0 Riders edge. Sam Sternschein, Ross Colton and Filipe had goals in the third to close it out, with Filipe's goal being an empty netter.

Blacker had his shutout bid ended with just 49 seconds left, on a goal by Waterloo's Garrett Wait. The Riders beat Waterloo on Thanksgiving night, 5-1, then toppled Madison on Friday night, 4-1.

They play Friday night at Sioux Falls, then host Green Bay the following night.