CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Des Moines Buccaneers (17-19-2, 36 pts.) picked up two points in a Dupaco Cowbell Cup matchup Sunday night, defeating the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (16-18-1-2, 35 pts.) 3-2 at ImOn Ice Arena. The contest looked set to go into overtime, but Nate Delladonna netted the game-winning goal with less than one second left in the final period of regulation. Bucs goalie Max Weilandt (10-6-1) stopped 20 of 22 shots in the victory. RoughRiders goalie Devin Rustlie (3-2-0) suffered the defeat with 17 saves on 20 shots. The Buccaneers have back-to-back Dupaco Cowbell Cup matchups against the Waterloo Black Hawks next weekend, kicking off Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:05 p.m. at Young Arena.
After a scoreless opening frame, Bucs forward Jack Kernan opened the scoring just 1:55 into the second period as his wrist shot from the left-wing circle flew past Rustlie. Kernan's 18th of the season was assisted by forward Blake Zielinski and defenseman Ryan Kroll, giving Des Moines the advantage at 1-0. RoughRiders forward Nick Romeo responded with a wraparound goal to tie the game 1-1 at 9:05 into the middle frame. Hans-Martin Ulvebne added another tally for Cedar Rapids, sending a breakaway shot through the five-hole to bring the RoughRiders ahead 2-1. Des Moines' Jacob Jastrzebski tied the game again late in the second period, tipping in a shot by defenseman Richard Baran at 19:14. Jastrzebski's ninth goal of the season was also assisted by forward Ben Kevan, making the score 2-2.
Des Moines forward Nate Delladonna sent the puck into Rustlie's wide-open backdoor off a feed by forward Ryan Seelinger from behind the net to clinch the victory for the Bucs. Kroll also had a hand in Delladonna's seventh goal of the season, which gave a final score of 3-2 at 19:59 into the final frame.
The Bucs head to Waterloo for a Friday night Dupaco Cowbell Cup matchup against the Waterloo Black Hawks on Jan. 31 at 7:05 p.m. at Young Arena. The Black Hawks then visit Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 1, to face the Bucs at 6 p.m. at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex. It is a 2-for-1 Beer Night – enjoy two beers for the price of one through the end of the first period! Restrictions apply.
Single-game tickets for Buccaneers games at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex are available online at tickets.bucshockey.com or by calling (515) 278-2827 ext. 2103. For more information about ticket packages, including season and group outings, please contact (515) 278-2827.
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