The force was strong with the RoughRiders during their 6-3 win over Muskegon Friday at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena.

Cedar Rapids scored more goals than it had in any game over the past four months (since netting seven back on Oct. 19) and improved its winning streak to five straight in front of 3,460 fans on Star Wars Night at The Stable.

"We had a pretty open offensive night," said forward Alec Marsh, who recorded a goal and an assist. "We got a lot of production from a lot of different guys."

And Cedar Rapids (28-14-2) did it with a couple of regulars sitting out with injuries. Nick Master was listed as injured (broken leg), and regulars Judd Peterson, Mitch Maloney and Brennan Sanford did not dress with various ailments. All four are forwards.

"We had a lot of firepower out of the lineup tonight," RoughRider coach Mark Carlson said. "We had 600 pounds sitting in the stands tonight, not on skates."

"We've got some pretty good players out right now," Marsh said. "But it's really good when you have guys step up to the plate when that happens."

The RoughRiders didn't waste any time putting Muskegon (20-21-4) on its heels.

Just 2 minutes, 6 seconds into the game, Marsh beat his man down the ice and flipped a one-timer to Andrew Oglevie, who lit the lamp just minutes after "Princess Leia" had finished the National Anthem.

Cedar Rapids added two more goals midway through the second period. Dylan McLaughlin converted a pass from Clark Kuster right at the end of a successful penalty kill to make it 2-0.

One minute and 3 seconds later, Carlos Fornaris re-directed a shot by Dylan Steman off a pass from Kevin Shand to make it 3-0.

"We made a lot of plays, got to the net, and used our speed," Carlson said.

Muskegon - which left the C.R. Ice Arena 14 points behind the RoughRiders - finally got to goalie Danny Tirone late in the second period.

But for every Lumberjack goal, the RoughRiders got one back.

Marsh converted an unassisted breakaway by going top shelf to make it 4-1 with 11:11 left in the third period.

Then Andrew Gaus scored off a hard shot by Clark Kuster to make it 5-2 with 5:20 left.

In a madcap final few minutes with the Lumberjack goalie pulled, Dylan Steman got an empty net goal with 0.2 seconds left to provide the final margin, 6-3.

"We got the big lead early, but we didn't keep our foot on the pedal as much as we needed to," Gaus said. "But we were able to outscore them."

The defense also stepped up when needed. Up 3-1 at the start of the third period, the RoughRiders converted a key penalty kill.

And they did it despite having Gaus play for almost an entire shift without a stick.

"I'd rather not," Gaus said of stickless defending. "My dad is not going to be too happy. He bought me that stick."

Gaus said he got slashed earlier in the shift, and later the stick snapped on him. The short-handed RoughRiders were frantically trying to keep the Lumberjacks from scoring, and Gaus couldn't get to the bench.

"One time the puck came to me, I had to go to my knees and slap it with my hand," Gaus said. "I was glad to see the puck get out of the zone and get to the bench."

Cedar Rapids goalie Tirone managed 31 saves off 34 Muskegon shots. The Lumberjacks outshot the RoughRiders 34 to 24.

Neither team converted a power play. Muskegon was 0-for-3 and Cedar Rapids was 0-for-4.

Cedar Rapids takes its winning streak on the road Saturday night to Dubuque (26-14-3). The Saints are three points back of the RoughRiders for second place in the Eastern Conference.

Five of the next six games are on the road. The one home date is Saturday, March 1, against Lincoln.

"It was a nice win tonight," Carlson said. "We'll focus on tomorrow now. That's how we roll."

One player was feeling it Friday. Corey Petrash took a team-high four shots, but couldn't convert. The Canadian was still feeling the Olympic win of his home country over the U.S.A. in the Olympic semifinals earlier Friday.

"He's really basking in that win," Marsh said.

"He should be," Carlson said. "The Canadians played great."

And, it should be noted, so did the RoughRiders.

Muskegon        0  1  2 - 3
Cedar Rapids    1  2  3 - 6

Period One
CR - Andrew Oglevie (Alec Marsh, Charlie Curti) 2:06.

Period Two
CR - Dylan McLaughlin (Clark Kuster) 6:00.
CR - Carlos Fornaris (Dylan Steman, Kevin Shand) 6:57.
M - Jack Rowe (Robbie DeMontis) 19:09.

Period Three
CR - Alec Marsh (una) 8:49.
M - Matt Iacopelli (Trevor Morbeck) 9:44.
CR - Andrew Gaus (Kuster, Fornaris) 14:50.
M - Christopher Dodero (Connor Wood) 15:48.
CR - Dylan Steman (empty net) (una) 19:59.