Riders escape after blowing 5-0 lead
The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders spit disaster in the face Saturday night.
Corey Petrash scored the game-winning goal with 53 seconds left in the third period to give Cedar Rapids a crucial 6-5 victory over Dubuque before 2,092 stunned fans at the Ice Arena.
The RoughRiders built an early 5-0 lead, but the Fighting Saints stormed all the back and tied the game 5-5 in the third period before Petrash rescued the home team from danger.
The victory tied the best-of-5 series in the opening round of the USHL playoffs at one game apiece, with Games 3 and 4 in Dubuque next weekend. A fifth and deciding game will be played in Cedar Rapids on Monday, April 21 if the series is tied 2-2 at that point.
Petrash got a pass from Andrew Poturalski in front of the Dubuque goal and flicked it home for the game-winner. The RoughRiders were cheering and dancing in their locker room after giving their playoff hopes the boost they needed.