The Green Bay Gamblers couldn’t overcome a surge of Cedar Rapids offense on Friday night, falling 5-3 at the Resch Center despite a hat trick from Jimmy Wooten.

Wooten was the story of the night for Green Bay, striking three times for his 7th, 8th, and 9th goals of the season. He opened the scoring on the power play just 3:42 into the first, then answered Cedar Rapids’ first equalizer less than three minutes later to put the Gamblers back in front 2-1.

Cedar Rapids had an answer of its own, taking control in the second period with three goals in a five minute stretch. Green Bay briefly stole back momentum when Wooten finished off his hat trick with a shorthanded goal at 11:47, but Cedar Rapids regained the lead just 46 seconds later and added another on the power play to go up 4-3.

The Gamblers never found their footing in the third. Cedar Rapids scored early to extend the lead to 5-3 and then the final 12 minutes turned into a parade to the penalty box. Multiple major penalties and misconducts on both sides slowed the game to a crawl, but Green Bay couldn’t generate a push and finished the period without a shot on goal.

Cedar Rapids outshot the Gamblers 30-21. Green Bay finished 1 for 5 on the power play and surrendered two goals on the penalty kill. Goaltender Adam Slavick made 25 saves.

Green Bay will look to regroup as the weekend continues, aiming to tighten things up defensively and build on Wooten’s performance.