Legwand, Hall Step Fourth

David Legwand prepares himself during the anthem

Iqaluit, NU (CP)

More than two weeks removed from their last game action, the Baffin Island Rovers showed no signs of rust as they pounced on the Calgary Vampyres from the opening whistle of game 1 of the second round and did not let up for sixty minutes. The Rovers held the edge in shots, faceoffs, hits, corner battles, puck possession, passing, but most importantly goals as they took the opening game 4-2.

The Rovers owned the opening frame, taking a 2-0 lead on goals from Olli Jokinen and Sean Hill while outshooting the Vamps 15-5. They increased the pressure in the second, but the lack of shots got to Martin Gerber as the Vamps snuck two by him on two shots in the opening six minutes. With the game tied at two, the fourth line stepped it up as David Legwand took an Adam Hall pass and snapped a high glove shot to break the deadlock, and then Hall scored in the third from Legwand for the insurance marker. The Vampyres managed almost as many shots in the third (8) as they did in the first two periods combined (9), but could not put another puck past Gerber. "Leggy and Hall were great for us", Stringer said of his fourth unit. "We were throwing everything we had at Toskala, but that line gave him a different look and finally they broke through".

The two teams are back at it again tonight at the Igloo for game 2. Expect no lineup changes from the Rovers. Nathan Horton has been ruled out for game 2 and will begin skating with the team later in the week. He is questionable for the games in Calgary.