Roughriders take OT thriller

PAPILLION, NE – Kyle Flanagan did everything a clutch player can potentially contribute to his team, the Cedar Rapids Roughriders, in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Indiana Ice. Flanagan and the Roughriders scored twice in regulation to tie the game and send it into overtime. With extra hockey available, Flanagan scored his third goal of the evening, and game winner, at the 1:02 mark. Cedar Rapids forward Kyle Flanagan is a native of Canton, New York. Stanislav Galiev scored on the power play for the first goal of the game at 7:43 of the opening period to give the Ice a 1-0 lead. Cedar Rapids returned the favor shortly thereafter. At 9:31, the Roughriders allowed Flanagan to score his first goal of the game and tie the game at 1-1. Both teams received multiple minor penalties throughout the first period and ended the period with offsetting double minors and game misconducts to Joe Hartman of Indiana and Bryce Aneloski of Cedar Rapids. The second period began much like the first ended, with each team receiving minors within the first seven minutes of play. As those penalties began to expire, play began to take stride. What had begun as an exciting, abusive game, had turned to a defensive work of art. That was until Kyle Flanagan decided to add his second goal of the evening at 10:14. The third period saw Stanislav Galiev take advantage of another power play opportunity and tie the game at two apiece. Galiev’s second goal of the night came at 13:49 in the third period. The defensive battle continued to the very end of the game. Both teams’ received three more minor penalties each, yielding no results. Overtime began as quickly as it started with Flanagan creating a very memorable evening of his own and for the Cedar Rapids fans. Flanagan’s goal at 1:02 in overtime evened the series and placed the Roughriders in the win column. With the Cedar Rapids win, the Roughriders tie the series at one game apiece. The series will continue in Indianapolis on Wednesday night. You may email the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com