The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders scored a pair of crucial power play goals on Saturday, defeating the Waterloo Black Hawks 4-2 at Imon Ice Arena.

The RoughRiders had struggled on special teams early this season.  They entered the night ranked last on both the power play and the penalty kill.

The first period was goalless, because an apparent tally by Gavyn Thoresen was disallowed about nine minutes into the period.  Thoresen's initial shot was stopped before he made contact with goalie Bruno Bruveris, which led to the washout as the puck bounced in.
 
The RoughRiders went ahead on the game's first power play at 3:58 of the second.  Brendan Fitzgerald's shot from the left point was knocked down, but Zaccharya Wisdom got a whack at the rebound and knocked it between the pipes.  

Gennadi Chaly answered 61 seconds later with his first USHL goal.  Chaly triggered his chance from near the bottom of the right circle and beat Bruveris from a sharp angle.

Cedar Rapids went back to the lead with just over three minutes remaining in the period while the teams were skating four-on-four.  Dylan Hryckowian followed up his initial wraparound try, set up by Wisdom's assist.

The RoughRiders built the lead at 5:50 of the third with a favorable power play bounce.  Brendan Fitzgerald's shot from the left circle hit a Black Hawks defender, then found its way into the net past a partially-screened Emmett Croteau.

Waterloo broke a power play drought and drew back to within a goal with 3:42 to go.  In the Hawks' first five-on-three opportunity of the season, Chaly wired a shot to the top corner.  However, Waterloo could not follow up that goal with an equalizer during the subsequent five-on-four time.  

Hryckowian added his second of the night into an empty net with 56.2 seconds left to play.

The Hawks remain on the road next weekend, taking the ice on Friday against the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Waterloo 0 1 1 - 2
Cedar Rapids 0 2 2 - 4

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-1, Cedar Rapids, Wisdom 4 (Moore), 3:58 (PP). 2, Waterloo, Chaly 1 (Schifsky), 4:59. 3, Cedar Rapids, Hryckowian 1 (Wisdom), 16:58. Penalties-Klee Wat (slashing), 2:34; Baker Wat (checking from behind), 6:52; Pohlkamp Cr (cross checking), 10:25; Hilman Wat (roughing), 15:37; Moore Cr (roughing), 15:37.

3rd Period-4, Cedar Rapids, Fitzgerald 2 (Wisdom, Smith), 5:50 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Chaly 2 (O'Connell), 16:18 (PP). 6, Cedar Rapids, Hryckowian 2 (Kraft, Lavins), 19:03 (EN). Penalties-Thoreson Wat (holding), 4:05; Klee Wat (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 6:45; Bassen Cr (major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 6:45; O'Connell Wat (tripping), 8:13; served by Hryckowian Cr (bench minor-too many men), 14:38; Pohlkamp Cr (boarding), 16:00.

Shots on Goal-Waterloo 13-11-11-35. Cedar Rapids 8-13-8-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 1 / 3; Cedar Rapids 2 / 4.
Goalies-Waterloo, Croteau 2-4-0-0 (28 shots-25 saves). Cedar Rapids, Bruveris 2-2-1-0 (35 shots-33 saves).
A-1,723
Referees-David Lilly, Chazz Knoche.
Linesmen-Michael Ifkovits, Pete Jenkin.