Astapovich Records First Career Hat Trick In RoughRiders' Victory Over Tri-City

Daniel Astapovich recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders to a 6-2 win over the Tri-City Storm Friday night at Viaero Center.

Each of Astapovich’s tallies came on the power play. Four of the RoughRiders’ goals came with the man advantage.

The RoughRiders got on the scoreboard first. Just over two minutes into the opening frame, Kole Hyles collected his seventh goal of the season after ripping a snapshot from the very high slot through traffic past Storm goaltender Michal Pradel.

Hyles retrieved the puck after initially losing it in the left wing circle during an offensive rush.

Cedar Rapids doubled its lead during a two-man advantage with just over a minute remaining in the first. Tri-City’s Attila Lippai and Nolan Roed were simultaneously serving minor penalties. After a Martin Masa shot from the Tri-City slot slammed the end boards, the puck bounced to an open Astapovich, who was positioned on the left side of the Storm crease. Astapovich immediately sent the puck past Pradel for a 2-0 lead.

The RoughRider lead grew to 3-0 at the 8:35 mark of the second. Chance Burlison used his backhand to quickly shuffle a rebound around Pradel after Tri-City’s goaltender failed to hold a Joseph Mense shot from the right point to his chest.

Cedar Rapids added to their lead with just under five minutes left in the middle frame. As Tri-City’s Carmelo Crandell served a minor penalty for goaltender interference, Masa fed Astapovich, who blasted a one-timer from the left wing faceoff dot through Pradel’s five hole.

The Storm finally found the scoreboard with 27 seconds left in the second. Cam Springer acquired the puck near the left wing boards of Cedar Rapids’ zone, then quickly fed Nolan Roed in the left corner. Roed briefly strode the goal line toward the RoughRider net, then impressively tucked a quick shot through Reyelts for his team-leading 26th goal of the season.

Astapovich completed his hat trick 10:45 into the third. After Tri-City failed to clear on their goal line, the puck conveniently bounced to the Merrimack commit, who quickly blasted a shot around Pradel from the left side of the Storm crease.

Hans-Martin Ulvebne contributed Cedar Rapids’ sixth goal with just over five minutes left in the third. Ulvebne slid a rebound past Pradel after Tri-City’s netminder used his pads to stop a Thomas Vandenberg shot from the right wing circle.

Tri-City had the last say with a shorthanded two-on-one tally in the final five minutes. As the Storm killed a Rhys Wallin high sticking minor, Artemi Nizameyev grabbed possession of the puck and raced down the right wing into the RoughRider zone. Nizameyev sent a crisp pass to Crandell, who was open on the backdoor just off the left side of the Cedar Rapids crease. Crandell quickly slipped the puck past Reyelts for his 13th tally of the campaign.

Reyelts played in his league-leading 40th game of the season Friday and improved to 18-16-4 on the year. The Lindenwood commit stopped 18 of the 20 shots he faced.

Pradel, who suffered his second loss in nine appearances with Tri-City, halted 27 of 33 Cedar Rapids shots.

The RoughRiders (23-24-5, 51 pts) snapped a five-game road winless streak. Tri-City (25-24-4, 54 pts) is now 10-15-2 on home ice this season.

The teams split this year’s season series. Tri-City beat Cedar Rapids 4-1 on Sep. 28 at ImOn Ice Arena.

Friday was the Storm’s annual Concrete Cares/Paint the Ice Game presented by Kearney Concrete. The team wore special jerseys to honor children and families battling cancer. Those jerseys were auctioned off live on the ice after the game with proceeds benefiting Concrete Cares’ mission to improve the well-being of individuals who have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

The Storm welcomed all those who have been affected by cancer to paint the Viaero Center ice on Thursday night. Participants wrote a loved one’s name or inspiring message that stayed on the ice for Friday’s game. Cedar Rapids players, coaches, and staff also took part.