The hockey fans who chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena Saturday night must have sensed something special in the air.

Shortly after the United States defeated Russia, 3-2, in an eight-round shootout at the Winter Olympics, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders went one better than that.

The RoughRiders topped Dubuque, 5-4, on a goal by Frederick Tiffels that ended a nine-man shootout before 3,861 spirited fans.

The victory lifted Cedar Rapids into second place in the Eastern Conference of the USHL, one point ahead of the Fighting Saints.

Cedar Rapids fans came to The Stable to party and got their wish.

"I've got to thank our fans. Our fans were unbelievable," said RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson. "If there's a better night out in this town, I'd like to see it.

"The music, the singing, the people having a good time and partying and dancing. And a great hockey game. What a great night out in Cedar Rapids. We had engagements going on. We had all sorts of stuff."

A young man got down on his knee and proposed to his girlfriend on her birthday during the game. Fortuntately for him, she said yes and kissed him.

Cedar Rapids fans were ready to kiss Tiffels after the German beat Dubuque goaltender Kevin Reich with a backhand shot that barely trickled over the crease for the game-winner.

"It was awesome, because I actually know the guy who was in goal for Dubuque," said Tiffels. "I played with him one year in Mannheim (Germany). So it was nice to score on him. I've known him since he was like eight years old."

The official paused a moment to make sure the puck had crossed the goal line before signalling a victory for Cedar Rapids.

"I don't know how many inches, because we have centimeters. I mean, like this," said Tiffels, holding his hands about six inches apart. "I saw it bouncing."

Carlson said it was the second-longest shootout in franchise history, trailing only a shootout against Green Bay many years ago that went 13 or 14 rounds.

Saturday's game was tied, 4-4, after regulation. Neither team scored during the five-minute overtime, setting up a dramatic shootout with second place in the conference at stake.

Charlie Curti kept the game going for Cedar Rapids when he tied the shootout, 2-2, as the fifth man in rotation. Seamus Malone gave Dubuque a 3-2 lead as the No.7 man in the shootout, but Alec Marsh countered for the RoughRiders.

Cedar Rapids goaltender Chris Birdsall stopped the ninth Dubuque shooter to preserve the 3-3 deadlock, then Tiffels got the best of Johannson, who tipped over backwards into the net.

Birdsall stopped six of nine shots in the shootout with some clutch work, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It's pumping a little bit," he acknowledged. "You just have to stay focused and stay calm and just battle through it. Just stay poised and let them make the first move and just go with them.

"It was a great atmosphere," said Birdsall. "A lot of fans came to watch us today. A lot of cowbells."

Carlson likes the way his team is playing.

"I really like our character," he said. "We've got a whole group of guys that care. Every guy cares about the team and puts the team first. And that's why they've been able to do some decent things."

Dubuque       3  0  1  0  0 - 4
Cedar Rapids  2  1  1  0  1 - 5

DUB - Max McHugh (unassisted)
DUB - Dylan Gambrell (Brett Boeling, Alexx Privitera)
CRR - Dylan McLaughlin (power play) (Mitch Maloney)
DUB - Brett Boeing (Dylan Gambrell)
CRR - Mark Auk (Andrew Poturalski)
CRR - Clark Custer (Corey Petrash)
CRR - Andrew Poturalski (Brennan Sanford)
DUB - Max McHugh (Shane Kavanagh)