ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 5, 1996 TAG: 9602050105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Jason Clarke tied the score for Roanoke with a power-play goal in the third period, then won it in an overtime shootout as the Express defeated the Raleigh IceCaps 4-3 on Sunday in an East Coast Hockey League game at Dorton Arena.
Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, the Express gained a power play as Raleigh's Matt Adams was sent off for hooking. With the power play winding down, Roanoke's Tim Christian sent Karry Biette in along the left wing boards, and Biette snapped a quick pass to Clarke crashing the net. The Roanoke wing lifted his 18th goal of the season over goalie Brad Mullahy at 5:42.
After Biette scored in the first round of the shootout, Clarke snapped his sixth shootout goal of the season over Mullahy. It turned out to be the winner as Matt DelGuidice stopped four of five IceCaps shots in winning his first shootout of the season after losing two. The Express improved its record in shootouts to 9-2; the IceCaps are 2-10.
WIth the victory, Roanoke's magic number to qualify for the playoffs is 16 points, a number that is reduced by two if the Express wins or Raleigh loses, and is reduced by one if either team loses in a shootout.
Raleigh's Trevor Sim, a former NHL player with Edmonton, opened the scoring in a four-goal first period. After Curt Regnier flicked the puck toward the edge of DelGuidice's crease, the goalie tried to pounce on the loose puck but missed, and Sim lifted a backhander just under the crossbar at 7:06 of the opening period.
Roanoke's Dave Stewart tied the score barely a minute later, ripping a right-point shot through Mullahy's pads after Biette won a faceoff deep in the IceCaps' zone.
The Express took a 2-1 lead when Mike Stacchi scored his first goal since Nov.18, redirecting the rebound of a Duane Harmer right-point shot past a sprawling Mullahy at 13:59.
Roanoke had a faceoff deep in the Raleigh zone with 35 seconds remaining in the period, but Sim raced down the ice along the right wing before ripping a shot that DelGuidice stopped - but Rob Pattison cruised untouched through the slot and slid a backhander under a fallen DelGuidice to tie the score at 2 with just 20 seconds to go in the period.
Raleigh had numerous chances in a chippy second period, including two breakaways that DelGuidice stopped - one only 15 seconds into the period.
Raleigh's Darren Colbourne, the ECHL's No.4 all-time goal-scorer, knocked home his 10th goal in 11 games on a 50-footer after Biette lost the puck clearing the zone, giving the IceCaps a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.
ICE CHIPS: Roanoke's Chris Potter missed his third consecutive game with a sore wrist. ... Chris Tschupp also was scratched from the Express' lineup.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines KEYWORDS: HOCKEYby CNB