The RoughRiders kept stuffing the turkey on Friday, till everything was gravy.

Cedar Rapids beat Muskegon 3-2 in overtime at The Stable, outshooting the Lumberjacks better than 2-to-1 (48 to 21).

"We stuck with it," RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson said. "We got a lot of rubber on their net tonight. I liked the way we hung tough; we didn't panic.

"I thought we showed great toughness there in overtime, getting it done."

Muskegon (9-8-4) had the momentum, having scored in the third period to tie it at 2-2 and force overtime.

But 3:01 into the 5-minute extra period, Andrew Poturalski skipped it across to Corey Petrash, who faked Lumberjack goalie Eric Schierhorn and hit the overtime winner.

"That was a nice heads up play by Potsi there," Petrash said. "He brought all the guys up top. I was going for it down low. He made a great play down to me. That  was it."

The goal saved the RoughRiders from going to their third shootout in their last four games.

"We have a lot of faith in our goalies and our shooters," Petrash said. "But its nice to win in OT and not have to deal with it."

It was a somewhat frustrating night for the RoughRiders (12-3-1) since they outshot Muskegon 48 to 21. That included a 25 to 6 advantage in shots in the first period, that nevertheless resulted in a 1-0 Muskegon lead.

"You get that many shots; not scoring much ... Coach does a good job of telling us to keep going," forward Judd Peterson said. "Be relentless and tough.

"It's a little frustrating, but at the same time, you've got to stick with it."

Muskegon got up just 1:35 into the game on a goal by Christopher Dodero off a rebound. Despite the big shot advantage, Cedar Rapids didn't score until midway through the second period, when Jack Rowe came up with a power play goal off a rebound from Poturalski.

The RoughRiders took the lead a few minutes later when Dylan Steman flipped the puck ahead to Peterson, who won the 1-on-1 breakway against Schierhorn by going top shelf.

"It just shows toughness," Peterson said. "Not giving up. It gives you confidence when you get that many shots on a goalie."

Schierhorn finished with 45 saves despite taking the overtime loss in goal. Danny Tirone got the win in goal for Cedar Rapids, making 19 saves.

Muskegon tied the game early in the third period on a power play with a 2-man advantage. Matt Iaconpelli scored off a pass from Tommy Panico.

Both teams killed a penalty in the final minutes of regulation and the game went to overtime.

"We just find a way," Carlson said. "If we have to go to the shootout, we have confidence in that, too. We made a play."

The win is the thrid straight overall for the RoughRiders, and sixth straight at home.  There were 1,875 fans in The Stable on a night that featured an Iowa men's basketball game and the high school football finals.

Cedar Rapids returns to the ice on Thanksgiving, skating at Waterloo (11-5-0), before the Bucs return to The Stable on Friday.

"That'll be a fun series," Peterson said.

Thanksgiving dinner will likely be light, Peterson said, with perhaps a bigger feast on Saturday after the two-game set with Waterloo.

Muskegon       1  0  1  0  - 2
Cedar Rapids   0  2  0  1  - 3

Musk - Christopher Dodero (Matt Mendelson, Cooper Marody)
CR - Jack Rowe (Andrew Poturalski)
CR - Judd Peterson (Dylan Steman)
Musk - Matt Iacopelli (Tommy Panico)
CR - Corey Petrash (Poturalski)