Day 60: Muzz Silences Spectres

Rover winger Glen Murray signs an autograph while parking before the game against the Spectres, then scored the winning goal to down the home team.








Guelph, ON (CP)

After a week-long hiatus, the Rovers got back into action Thursday night in Guelph and came out with a 4-2 decision over the Spectres. Kris Draper, playing again on the first line with Pavol Demitra and Glen Murray, opened the scoring a minute into the game with his ninth goal of the season. The Spectres quickly answered with two goals just seventy-three seconds apart, first Marty Reasoner and then Steve Rucchin giving Guelph a 2-1 lead. It lasted approximately 10 minutes before Ryan Malone scored his fourth late in the first to tie the game. From that point, the Rovers handled the Spectres rather easily, as Guelph managed the same 13 shots that they had in the first period over the final two periods combined. The Rovers, by contrast, kept up the pressure and were rewarded. Murray struck for his eleventh of the year early in the second on a quick snapper over the glove of Jamie McLennan, and Alex Frolov scored in his third consecutive game to add the insurance midway through the third. "We got contributions from all lines tonight", Stringer said of the win. "The goals by Alex and Ryan are big, as it appears as those new lines are gelling well".

Martin Gerber stopped 24 of 26 shots for the victory, while McLennan was tagged with the loss, allowing four goals on 37 shots. The Rovers now have two days off before hosting the cellar-dwelling Wicked Ale back in Iqaluit.