Days 81-82: Weekend Sweep

St. Pete's, FL (AP)

The Rovers flew south to St. Pete's a day early to hit the beach, then the next day they hit the Wicked Ale for a 4-2 road victory. For the second straight game captain Olli Jokinen tallied the winning goal, this one late in the third period in a 2-2 game that was close only for the efforts of Patrick Lalime in the Ale nets. Lalime was ambushed to the tune of 47 shots against, but held the Ale in the game for 57 minutes. Glen Murray and Pavol Demitra gave the Rovers a 2-1 lead after Martin Straka opened the scoring early in the first. Eric Brewer iced the game 33 seconds after Jokinen's go-ahead marker. Chris Mason won his second straight start, stopping 19 of 21 shots for his seventh win of the season.

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

A quick flight home saw a short turnaround to the next Baffin game at home against Albany for the second time in four days. Unlike Thursday, however, this game was not close as the Rovers overwhelmed Ed Belfour for four goals on 17 shots in the first period to take a 4-0 lead into the lockerroom. Kris Draper scored twice in the frame, as did Mark Recchi and Jeff Halpern. It was a lead they would not relinquish as they maintained the pressure in the second, again outshooting the StrapHangers by a 16-5 margin. Mark Recchi notched his second of the game early in the third and Nathan Horton pushed the lead to 6-0 minutes later to conclude the Rover scoring. Sergei Samsonov's goal 13 seconds after Horton's was the only blemish on Chris Mason's evening as he stopped 22 of 23 for his third consecutive win.

The three wins moved Baffin Island four points ahead of the Mounties for first place, with Kitchener holding one game in hand. The Rovers now have three days off before entering a curious stretch of nine days during which they play the Selects twice and the Vampyres four times.