Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 16, 1990 TAG: 9003162781
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After a couple of rides in the East Coast Hockey League elevator, the Virginia Lancers are looking to catch a one-way ride to the penthouse.
"Yeah, it's time to go back up," said Dave Allison, the Lancers' coach. "Hopefully, we're headed in that direction. And at the end, if things work out, we'll be the ones at the top."
Stuck on ground level the past month, the Lancers now want to push the up button.
"Just tell ol' Otis [the elevator manufacturer] we're ready," Allison said.
To make the trip, the Lancers first will have to shove aside the Greensboro Monarchs. The ECHL's third- and fourth-place clubs, respectively, begin a first-round, best-of-five series tonight at 7:30 at the Vinton LancerLot.
Virginia, which lost seven of its last nine games to fall from first to third, has to like the matchup. The Lancers were 7-1 vs. the Monarchs during the regular season, including a 10-2 romp in Wednesday's finale.
"For some reason, we've seemed to play really well against Greensboro," Allison said. "We've been lucky and we've played well. Other than that, I can't give you a reason."
In a league where certain teams have had others' number, the Lancers obviously have figured out the Monarchs. At home, Virginia was 4-0 vs. Greensboro, outscoring the Monarchs 25-10. At Greensboro, Virginia won three of four and held an 18-12 edge in goals.
Despite the favorable numerology, the Lancers can't look past the Monarchs, Allison said.
"The playoffs are always a whole different story," he said. "Anything can happen.
"And the way we've been playing, we can't afford not to take anybody seriously."
His players agree.
"On paper, sure, we look good against Greensboro," said goalie Steve McKichan. "But last time I heard, we're going to play the playoffs on ice, not on paper."
Said defenseman Bill Whitfield, "Hey, we've still got to beat 'em three more times. What happened in the regular season is history now."
Still, Virginia has one big edge on Greensboro - speed. Coach Jeff Brubaker confessed that his lumbering squad has had problems containing the Lancers.
"The main thing they have is an element of speed that we don't have," Brubaker said of the Lancers. "But we haven't tried to neutralize that. And it's becoming quite evident that we will have to. We'll make some adjustments."
Brubaker, who rested most of his top guns in Wednesday's blowout, isn't concerned about Virginia's regular-season dominance.
"It doesn't mean crap," he said. "Say, if I flip a coin seven times, what are the chances of it coming up heads the eighth time?
"It all boils down to that they've played well against us and we haven't played well against them.
"I'm not worried. We will win this series. When this series is over, we'll have three wins."
Game 2 will be played Saturday at the LancerLot. The series then moves to Greensboro for Game 3 on Tuesday and, if necessary, Game 4 on Wednesday. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be played Friday, March 23, in Vinton.
The winner will advance to a second-round best-of-three series against either Erie or Hampton Roads. No. 2 Erie and No. 5 Hampton Roads begin their best-of-five, first-round series tonight in Erie.
In the other playoff series, regular-season champion Winston-Salem begins a best-of-seven at home tonight against No. 6 Nashville. The winner of that series moves directly into the best-of-seven championship series against the second-round survivor.
\ ICE CHIPS: Virginia's playoff hopes improved greatly when Allison learned that NHL-contract forwards Chris Lindberg, Graham Stanley and, possibly, Terry Menard will be back with the Lancers. "Those are people who can score, and right now, we need scoring," Allison said. With that line clicking in January, the Lancers won 11 straight games. . . . Shannon Travis, a fourth NHL farmhand back in the fold, had a goal and four assists in his return Wednesday.
Just in case some of his players are called up during the playoffs, Allison is keeping forwards Marty Raus and Bill Gutenberg and defenseman Al Leggett around for "emergency recall." . . . Also, much-needed grinder Greg Neish, who has been hobbled by injuries the past six weeks, is expected back at nearly full strength.
by CNB