Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 6, 1994 TAG: 9401060150
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In their best 60-minute effort of the season, Roanoke's Russian trio of Lev Berdichevsky, Ilja Dubkov and Oleg Yashin combined for four goals and four assists as the Express rolled to a 7-3 victory over struggling Greensboro.
The victory before a crowd of 3,814 was Roanoke's eighth in a row at home, tying the Express with Hampton Roads for the longest home winning streak this season in the East Coast Hockey League.
Berdichevsky led the Russian assault, scoring three goals in his third hat trick of the season. Dubkov, in a splendid effort, had a goal and an assist; and Yashin set up three goals.
"They're as good as anybody in this league when they're on their games," Roanoke defenseman Will Averill said of the Russians.
"They're great players. At times, we've had to try and just bear with them. We all know that the game they've been playing is totally different than this game. Sure, they've been in a funk at times, but tonight they came out and carried us. When they're on their games like that, it's just fun to sit back and watch them."
Roanoke's Jeff Jestadt had two goals, but after the game the forward still was marveling at the precision on this night by the skilled Russians.
"I think since their wives [Berdichevsky and Yashin are married] and kids got here that it's been a big load off their shoulders. They did some things tonight that stunned everybody. If they keep doing that every night, this team is going places."
Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone, who broke up his Russian line two weeks ago, reunited them for much of the night.
"I put 'em back together trying to give us a lift . . . and it worked," Anzalone said. "They made the plays when we needed them. Lev scored all the goals, but I thought Dubkov was the best of the three. Now, they need to learn do the same thing on the road."
It didn't take the Russians long to start perking Wednesday.
Twenty seconds after the opening faceoff, Yashin picked up a loose puck near center ice and in a nice spin move fed Dubkov, who promptly uncorked a rising 40-foot slap shot past Monarchs goalie Patrick LaBrecque.
After Express goalie Dan Ryder held Greensboro at bay for the next 13 minutes, Berdichevsky made it 2-0. Parked in the right slot, Berdichevsky deflected Yashin's drive from the top of the left circle past LaBrecque.
Greensboro closed to 2-1 on John Young's power-play goal at 15:10, but Berdichevsky restored the two-goal margin 1:46 later, burying a setup pass from Yashin in the left circle.
In the second period, Greensboro outshot Roanoke 23-11 but still lost ground on the scoreboard.
After Phil Berger tipped home Dan Gravelle's blast to make it 3-2 at 2:18, Roanoke quickly retaliated, as Jestadt scored on a two-on-one breakaway at 5:06.
Berdichevsky's third goal, a straight-on one-timer from the slot set up by Dave "Moose" Morissette's work behind the Monarchs' net, made it 5-2 and earned LaBrecque an early shower with 13:58 left in the second period.
Jestadt tacked on his 21st goal of the season and Tony Szabo scored his 18th in the final period. Berger had Greensboro's final goal, his 32nd, tying him with Richmond's Darren Colbourne for the ECHL lead.
Roanoke, 12-4-0 at home, improved its overall record to 17-16-1 at the halfway point of the season.
Greensboro, which still is missing several key players because of injuries and call-ups, saw its record slip to 21-9-5. The Monarchs are 3-5-3 in their past 11 games.
"We couldn't have beaten a Junior B team tonight," said Jeff Brubaker, the Monarchs' coach. "Our effort was horrible. Our goalie [LaBrecque] is 6-1, but he played like like he was 1-6."
\ ICE CHIPS: Berdichevsky's hat trick was Roanoke's seventh of the season. Szabo (two) is the only other player with more than one three-goal game. . . . Szabo's 18th goal and two assists extended his club-record points streak to 13 games. . . . Ryder was awarded an assist on Roanoke's third goal, making him the first goalie in Express history to record a point. . . . Greensboro scored on its first man-advantage situation, marking the 16th consecutive game in which Roanoke has given up at least one power-play goal. . . . Forward Gairin Smith returned to the Express lineup. Smith rejoined the club Monday after taking a two-week hiatus to play for Team Canada at the Spangler Cup competition in Switzerland. . . . Roanoke has outscored the opposition 47-30 during its eight-game home streak. . . . Roanoke is 13-2-1 when scoring five or more goals. . . . The Express boards the bus today for a two-game Pennsylvania swing to Erie on Friday and Johnstown on Saturday. Roanoke's next home game is Tuesday against Charlotte.
by CNB