Day 94: Captain Clutch

Rovers captain Olli Jokinen celebrates the first and only goal of the game with five minutes remaining in regulation.

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

Needing a big effort to down the Vampyres on the heels of a 3-0 loss, all hands came out firing in Iqaluit, peppering Vesa Toskala with 38 shots. But it wasn't until late in the third when the captain, Olli Jokinen, one-timed a quick wrister past Toskala that the ice was broken. The goal stood up to be the game-winner as the Rovers earned a hard-fought 1-0 win.

The Rovers had the intensity cranked up from the get-go, and outshot the Vampyres 10-8 in a scoreless first period. The second saw more of the same as Baffin contined to pressure Calgary at every turn. Shots favoured the Rovers 16-5 in the frame, one which saw Vamps winger Gary Roberts leave with a shoulder injury. He did not return. The third period was more of the same, with the Rovers firing everything (including the kitchen sink) at Toskala while the Vamps hung on for dear life. Finally Jokinen broke through, one-timing a snap-pass from Glen Murray past the Vamps keeper with just over five minutes to go. Calgary were unable to come back, mustering only 3 shots in the period. Martin Gerber posted his third shutout of the season, making just 16 saves. "I tell you what, whoever gets Calgary in the playoffs will have their hands full because that guy [Toskala] can steal a series from anyone", Stringer said of the opposing tender. "I'm glad we've got a guy like Marty that can hang with him and battle him save for save, but they'll be tough in the playoffs, no doubt".

The Rovers continue to trail the Mounties at the top of the division by a single point. With 19 games remaining each, Kitchener has 67 points and Baffin 66. The Rovers now travel to Indy to tangle with the 500s. The season series sits at 2-1 Baffin, but this is a very different 500s team since they last met with the departures of Sundin, Tanguay, Kovalev, and Schneider to name a few. That said, the Rovers still expect a battle. "Is the guy behind the bench still there [referring to GM Benvenga]?", Stringer asked of a reporter who suggested that the 500s would be easy pickings. "He is? Well then, we won't get anything for free. Mark's a battler and I don't expect him to start giving me gifts anytime soon".