Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 28, 1994 TAG: 9410280104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HUNTINGTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
Coming off back-to-back losses, the Express visited the Huntington Civic Center on Thursday night looking to get well against the lowly Blizzard.
Roanoke got some medicine all right. Another bitter dose of defeat, that is.
In extending its winning streak to two games - matching the franchise record - the Blizzard erupted for three goals in the game's final 10 minutes to deal the Express a 5-2 loss in the East Coast Hockey League.
The defeat was the third in a row for Roanoke (1-3). Meanwhile, Huntington, the ECHL's laughingstock last season with a 14-49-5 record, improved to 2-1-1, marking the first time in the franchise's history it has been above .500.
Right now, .500 would look just lovely to a Roanoke squad that has hit the skids since a rousing 5-3 victory over Hampton Roads in its opener on Oct.18.
``Right now, we're a 1-3 hockey team,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone, admittedly grasping for answers.
``We're not very sharp and we're not getting very much accomplished. We admit that.''
Anzalone said some players don't appear ``to want to be involved.''
Does that mean some roster moves soon?
``I'm not Houdini,'' Anzalone said bristling at the question. ``I worked all summer to get the best players possible. I can't call up eight players from my Sunshine League affiliate. It's a day-by-day process and players have to be available who are better than your players to make a move.''
Catching the Express in a line change, Huntington's Ray Edwards took an outlet pass from Jared Bednar at center ice, skated in alone and beat Express goalie Dave Gagnon on a breakaway with 10 minutes, 4 seconds left to break a 2-2 tie.
The Blizzard tacked on two goals in the game's final 2:04 - a Dan Fournel breakaway and Mike Stone's empty-net goal - to supply the final margin.
Huntington goaltender Chris Gordon stopped 28 of 30 shots. Roanoke had numerous quality chances early, but couldn't turn on the red light. The Express has scored a total of three goals in its past two games.
``What's happening to us is we're being pushed to the back wall because we're not taking advantage of opportunities being given to us,'' said Anzalone, who watched in dismay as shots repeatedly missed an open net.
``We had chances to up 2-1, 3-1, 4-1 and did not. Consequently, we wind up relying on Dave Gagnon and they're in a 1-1 game and they're banging us and getting opportunistic goals. Meanwhile, we're not getting any breaks around the net. We don't bury our chances, they bury theirs and we lose. It's pretty simple, really.''
Jeff Jestadt, one of the Roanoke guns missing in action, said the offensive slump is puzzling but reason for panic.
``I can't put my finger on it,'' Jestadt said. ``Hey, there are 60-some games left in the season. We're not panicking. We'll get it turned around.''
Defenseman Michael Smith and forward Oleg Yashin had the Roanoke goals.
The Express faces the Blizzard again here tonight.
ICE CHIPS: After threatening to juggle his roster after Saturday's home flop against Raleigh, Anzalone made his first move Thursday, placing 6-foot-3, 235-pound defenseman Paul Belleza on waivers. After showing potential in preseason camp, Belleza appeared a tad overmatched in the ECHL. In three games, he failed to register a point with 21 penalty minutes and a minus-2 rating. ... Belleza's spot was filled by by Brian Sutton, a defenseman with similar early-season credentials. Sutton, picked up on waivers Thursday from Huntington, had no points, two penalty minutes and a minus-2 rating in two games with the Blizzard. ... Huntington officials passed out fliers to the 2,369 fans on hand containing a preseason preview in the the Roanoke Times & World-News that ripped the Huntington franchise and players. ``Just more fuel for them,'' said Pierre Paiement, the Express' general manager. ... Following tonight's game, the Express buses 250 miles to Knoxville, Tenn., where it faces the Knoxville Cherokees on Saturday night.
\ see microfilm for box score
by CNB