Ice beat Riders 5-1

Daniil Tarasov scored twice and added an assist, and his line didn't miss a beat with a new linemate Friday night in a 5-1 victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The Tarasov-Jacob Fallon-Sean Kuraly line has been one of the USHL's most dangerous during the early part of the year. With Kuraly representing the United States at the World Junior A Challenge -- which will begin Saturday and go through Nov. 13 -- Emil Romig filled his spot. Romig had two assists, and the combination was a plus-4 on the night -- Tarasov turned out a plus-3. Fallon had a goal and two assists and a +4 rating. Defenseman Ryan Obuchowski, who scored the game's first goal, was also a plus-4.

Obuchowski scored 5:59 into the game on assists from Fallon and Tarasov. The line struck again 2:59 later with Tarasov's first goal, assisted by Fallon and Alex Barron.

Tarasov now has 17 points in nine games. Fallon's 3-point night put him in double figures with a 6-6-12 line so far in nine games.

Romig had the first assist on both second-period goals -- by Fallon and Tarasov -- that made it a 4-0 game going into the third. Barron had the second assist on Tarasov's tally to give him two for the night and nine for the year.

After a Riders goal 40 seconds into the third, Robbie Baillargeon set the final margin at 5:11, assisted by Ice veterans Christian Hilbrich and Cody Bradley.

The Ice only had one power-play opportunity, and that came at the 9:40 mark of the third when they already led 5-1. The Ice also killed off all three Cedar Rapids man-advantage situations.

The game got chippy late, as Tarasov and defenseman Joe Fiala tangled with CR's Blake Butzow and Tanner Pond -- all receiving fighting majors -- while Fallon and CR's Preston Hodge got game misconducts for cross checking and checking from behind, respectively, on the same play with 5:29 left.

Jon Gillies made 26 saves in net for the Ice, who are now 7-2-0 and travel to Youngstown tonight.

Three stars
1. Daniil Tarasov (Ice). 2 goals, assist, +3, 6 shots
2. Jacob Fallon (Ice), 1 goal, 2 assists, +4
3. Emil Romig (Ice), 2 assists, +4