
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 24, 1995                   TAG: 9511240059
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS DELIVERS

When the Roanoke Express pushed itself away from the feast of feats that comprised its 6-5 shootout victory over the Hampton Roads Admirals, there was much for which it could be thankful.

In a smorgasbord of an East Coast Hockey League game that was as full of juicy morsels as a portly diner following a Thanksgiving meal, the Express beat its cross-state rival in a shootout for the second consecutive night. Roanoke ran its winning streak to a season-high three games while handing the Admirals their 13th consecutive loss in overtime games during the past two seasons.

``It's a happy Thanksgiving, that's for sure,'' said Jason Clarke, one of several Express stars.

Roanoke and the 5,828 guests who joined it for the Thanksgiving suppertime special at the Roanoke Civic Center were grateful Clarke scored a pair goals, including one that tied it at 5 with 2:42 left in regulation.

They were thankful for Craig Herr, who beat Admirals goalie Mark Bernard for the only goal of the shootout.

And they were thankful for goalie Daniel Berthiaume, who stopped all five Hampton Roads shootout attempts 24 hours after stopping the Admirals on their last six shootout tries in a 4-3 victory in Norfolk on Wednesday.

And Berthiaume was just as gracious, thankful Hampton Roads' Bob Woods and Rick Kowalsky hit posts during the shootout.

``I loved that,'' said Berthiaume, who replaced starter Matt DelGuidice in the second period Thursday night. ``You always love it when the other guys hit the post and it doesn't go in. They sent three or four of the same guys [whom he had seen in Wednesday's shootout] at me. They all didn't do the same things, but neither did I.''

Herr won it for the Express (11-8-0) in the fourth round by going for the cranberry sauce on the top shelf with a forehand over Bernard's right shoulder.

``I went backhand [in Wednesday's shootout] and didn't score,'' said Herr, who scored Thursday despite suffering a nasty bruise after taking a slap shot to his right leg. ``I rarely shoot high. Bernard was probably just as surprised as I was.''

Berthiaume stoned Trevor Halverson's fifth-round attempt to end it, handing Hampton Roads (8-2-7) its seventh shootout loss this season.

``We're not playing for ties, but I guess that's what it's like,'' said John Brophy, Hampton Roads' coach. ``Don't ask me what happens in the shootouts. It's become a burden. If we win one, maybe we won't lose another.''

The Admirals erased a two-goal deficit, then saw the Express tie the score at 4 when Michael Smith scored a power-play goal by taking a back pass from Herr, wound up once and buried a shot from the point that glanced the left post at 15:40 of the second period. The goal originally was credited to Clarke, who never touched the puck before it went in.

Dominic Maltais gave the Admirals a 5-4 lead with a power-play goal late in the second, then the next time Smith fired on goal, Clarke was there to deflect it in to tie the score with 2:42 left.

NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.

by CNB