Day 76: No Fun in Saskatoon

"What can I say? We kicked their asses" - Funboys forward Eric Lindros

Saskatoon, SK (CP)

So long, farewell. The Rovers won't be shedding any tears leaving Saskatoon for the final time this regular season. After splitting the two previous hard-fought contests at Saskatchewan Place, the Rovers were handed their biggest defeat of the season, a 5-2 drubbing that snapped their nine-game unbeaten streak. It was only the second time all season that the Rovers allowed five goals (a 5-5 tie with Waterloo early in the season being the only other), and it was the first loss of the season by more than two goals. "No doubt about it.. they thumped us", Stringer said of the loss. "They got us running around and taking penalties, then they killed us on their PP. We've just got to forget this and move on".

The Funboys carried the play from the opening whistle, taking a quick 2-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on goals by Sullivan and Lindros and outshooting the Rovers 13-4 in the stanza. The Rovers fought back in the second, scoring early on a Kris Draper wrister and late on a Kim Johnsson slapshot to tie, but All-Star starter Scott Niedermayer put the Funboys back on top for good a mere 22 seconds after Johnsson's equalizer. Saskatoon iced the game with two more power-play tallies in the third from fellow All-Star starter Bill Guerin and Lindros, his second of the night. Martin Gerber dropped the decision allowing five goals on 33 shots, while Michael Leighton kicked out 20 of 22 for the victory.

The loss drops the Rovers percentage points behind the Mounties, who now have a game in hand with which to overcome their one point deficit to Baffin Island. The Funboys pull to within four points of the Capones for fourth place, though the Vampyres still separate the two having games in hand on Saskatoon. The Rovers now have two days off before a stretch of three games in four nights against the StrapHangers and Wicked Ale. "We're looking forward to a few days off and re-charging before taking on Albany. They've been struggling, so we can't afford to let up. We'll be ready for them".

Notes: - Sean Hill did not accompany the team to Saskatoon, but had responded well to treatment over the past 24 hours for his injury. He is expected to be ready for the Albany home game later this week.