Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 23, 1992 TAG: 9202230259
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
REBELS FALL 4-3 IN OT SHOOTOUT
If they didn't know better, the Roanoke Valley Rebels might have thought Ray LeBlanc was wearing a Nashville jersey Saturday night at the LancerLot.In a goaltending performance that rivaled LeBlanc's stand-on-his-head act for the United States in the Winter Olympics, Nashville's Alain Harvey stopped 56 of 59 shots to lift the Knights to a 4-3 overtime shootout victory over the Rebels.
Afterward, Rebels coach Roy Sommer had to be reassured LeBlanc hadn't caught the Concorde from France to Vinton.
"Are we absolutely sure that wasn't [LeBlanc]?" said Sommer, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Holy smokes, 59 shots and we get three goals. The guy was like a big monster in the net. I kept looking, but I never did see the back of the net. My hat's off to him. What a game he played."
After stoning the Rebels for 65 minutes, Harvey's night still wasn't done. He still had to endure the shootout, which he did, stopping all but Rebels forward Wayne Muir in the five-man rotation that sends shooters one-on-one against the opposing team's goalie.
Nashville put the puck past Rebels goaltender Mike James twice, with Michael Seaton getting the deciding goal.
The loss saddled Roanoke Valley (19-29-6) with its season-high fourth consecutive home defeat. Still, because of the overtime, the Rebels were able to pick up a point on Knoxville (17-31-5) and lead the Cherokees by five points in the battle for the sixth and final playoff berth in the East Coast Hockey League's Eastern Division.
The clubs meet Wednesday night in Knoxville.
"If we're not ready to play that game," Sommer said, "we don't deserve to make the playoffs anyway. We can just about put Knoxville away with a win down there."
Nashville (20-29-4), all but eliminated from playoff contention in the ECHL West, appeared to have the Rebels put away in regulation. The Knights shocked the Rebs with two goals in the game's first 1:37.
After a tongue-lashing from Sommer during the first intermission, the Rebels took control.
A pair of goals by Brett Stewart and an unassisted score by Muir got Roanoke Valley even at 3 with 6:22 left in regulation.
However, Harvey wasn't about to let this one slip away. Despite constant pressure, the Boston Bruins' farmhand repeatedly turned away the swarming Rebels.
"I wanted to get it over with before it came down a shootout," Sommer said. "I knew we'd be in trouble in that with the way Harvey was playing."
Sommer was right. Only Muir was able to solve Harvey in the shootout.
"It should never have gotten to the shootout," Muir said. "We should have won. Of the 59 shots, at least 30 were quality shots. He was as good as any tender I've seen in this league tonight. We kept hoping his bubble would burst, but it never did."
The loss was the Rebs' third in as many shootouts this season.
"We can't seem to win one of the damn things," Sommer said. "I hate shootouts."
\ ICE CHIPS: The Rebels' four-game home losing streak has come on the heels of a stretch where they won nine of 11 at the Lot. . . . The contest ended a brutal string of seven games in nine days for the Rebels; they were 1-4-2 in the stretch. "That's no excuse," Sommer said. "Fact is, it seems like we tend to struggle against the weaker clubs for some reason. Give us the Hamptons and Greensboros and we're OK." . . . The road victory was the sixth of the season for Nashville. . . . Rebels peacemaker Frank "The Animal" Bialowas injured his right hand when he pounded Nashville's Mike DeCarle into submission in the second period. Rebels physician George Whortley said the defenseman will have X-rays today. . . . Rebs defenseman Steve Chelios is done for the season. Chelios had surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb and plans to return home this week. . . . Roanoke Valley has only 10 games left in the 64-game regular season - five at home, five on the road. After this week's Tennessee road swing to Knoxville (Wednesday) and Nashville (Friday), the Rebs return home to face Richmond (Saturday) and Cincinnati (Sunday). \
see microfilm for box score