Day 26: 500@ROV review

Another test for the Rovers presented itself last night in the form of the perennially tough Indianapolis 500s. GM Benvenga's squad has always played well against Baffin, so a 3-1 home-ice win was exactly what the team was hoping for to build on their win over the Vampyres the day before. Just as against Calgary, the Rovers had the edge in every statistical category from shots to passing. Outshooting the 500s 43-23, the Rovers finally got a goal from Alexander Frolov, his first of the season, as well as the winner from Pavol Demitra and insurance from rookie Ryan Malone, his first RHL goal. Martin Gerber's lone mistake came early in the second on an Alex Tanguay shot from the high slot. The win stretches the team's unbeaten streak to 11 games and moves them to within one point of the conference-leading Mounties, though Kitchener has two games in hand.

A down note from the game came on the second shift of the game when rookie Nathan Horton slid into the boards and came up limping, holding his right shoulder. He left the game and did not return. "I don't think it's separated, but he has some discomfort there. We'll see what the MRI says tomorrow". In a fortunate scheduling quirk, the Rovers now play only once in the next six days, having a two day break before hosting the Sockeyes and then waiting another three days until a return game against the 500s in Indy.