The host Des Moines Buccaneers scored four unanswered third period goals on the way to a come from behind 5-3 win over the RoughRiders in both teams’ preseason opener Friday night.

The Riders entered the third period on top 3-1 but Des Moines soon began chipping away at that lead. The Bucs were in the midst of a two man advantage when Bobby Reiners blasted the puck home from the right point to trim the gap to 3-2 two minutes and forty- six seconds into the third.

The Bucs evened the score at the 7:07 mark of the third when Andrew Olson swept home an Aaron Palushaj feed from the slot.

Michael Dorr, who also picked up two assists, scored unassisted to give the Bucs their first lead of the night at 10:54.

Des Moines added some late insurance when Jimmy Martin wristed the puck home through traffic from the right point at 17:22.

The Bucs were in need of that third period rally because it was the Riders who took control of the game over the first 40 minutes.

Cedar Rapids emerged from the first period with a 2-1 lead. The Riders opened the scoring while on the power play when Tyler Thompson steered home a goalmouth feed from Rob Bordson at 5:37 of the first.

The Bucs bounced back to tie the score less than three minutes later when Travis Paeth collected a lead pass from Richard Purslow and walked in alone to beat Rider goaltender Kent Patterson.

The deadlock last only until Bordson’s bad angle shot caromed off a Buccaneer and into the net at the 12:26 mark.

At 5:26 of the second period Jacob Cepis converted a David Boehm centering pass to extend the Cedar Rapids lead to 3-1.