Day 43: 500@ROV review

Kovalev also tried to take out Hedberg later in the game.

Clearly ornery from their recent travails, the 500s came to Baffin Island looking for blood. The Rovers just weren't expecting it literally. The 3-1 500s win was not without controversy. With backup Chris Mason between the pipes, Indy wanted to get an early jump on their rival. They got that, when recently-acquired Alexei Kovalev pulverized Mason with a vicious check as he and defenseman Cale Hulse were driving to the net. Kovalev was apparently mad over being hacked by Mason minutes earlier, an act that got Mason a two-minute minor penalty. "He didn't let up at all. Hulse let him go at the last minute, but he [Kovalev] didn't turn. He just creamed Mason. How could it have been viewed as not intentional?", questioned Stringer after the game.

Already without starter Martin Gerber, third-string 'tender Johan Hedberg entered the game, getting his first action of the year. He played admirably, allowing three goals on 27 shots against, but was outdueled by Chris Osgood, who stopped 25 of 26 shots, allowing only a late marker by Nathan Horton. "We've got two days off now, and that should be enough time for Marty [Gerber] to get back for the Sockeyes game. Chris may be ready then as well, or maybe not..."