Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411100047
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In front of a rocking, season-high crowd of 7,169 fans Saturday, the Express at last exorcised the demon of Raleigh, nipping the IceCaps 4-3 in an overtime shootout at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The victory snapped Roanoke's seven-game losing streak against Raleigh, dating to Nov.12, 1993.
The Express' toughest East Coast Hockey League nemesis didn't go quietly, however. Raleigh scored two goals in the third period, including Jimmy Powers' fluke with 25 seconds left in regulation, which forced overtime and the eventual shootout.
After a scoreless five-minute extra period, Roanoke won it in the shootout as Derek Laxdal and Pat Ferschweiler beat Raleigh goalie Brad Mullahy. Meanwhile, Express netminder Dan Ryder stopped all four IceCaps shooters.
``It's really unbelievable the jinx that Raleigh has had over this club,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach. ``It's just funny; I can't understand it.
``We have our best guys on the ice and they come up with one of those pounding, chopping, puck bouncing all over the place [goals] to tie the game with 25 seconds left.
``But we regained our composure and won in a shootout. We just didn't want to give 'em the point [in the standings for an overtime loss] because this [East] Division is so overwhelming.''
Engaged in its third consecutive shootout, Roanoke (5-3-1) escaped on goals by Laxdal and Ferschweiler.
Laxdal got credit for the game-winning goal, his first score in nine ECHL games. The former NHL forward beat Mullahy with a forehand high to the right-hand side.
``It's about time,'' Laxdal said. ``So much is expected of me here. I've been working hard, but I haven't been able to find the net. Maybe this will be the start of something.''
Raleigh led 1-0 before some of the crowd could make it through the doors.
The Raleigh goal came courtesy of big John Blessman, perhaps the last guy in the IceCaps' lineup one would expect to score. Set up by Powers' feed from behind the net, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman ripped a 35-foot straight-on one-timer past Ryder for his first goal of the season.
But Roanoke, which outshot the visitors 15-7 in the period, got even on the power play when Ilya Dubkov, parked low in the left faceoff circle, redirected Michael Smith's drive past Mullahy.
The Express took charge in the second period on goals by Jeff Jestadt and Oleg Yashin.
Roanoke attempted to nurse the two-goal lead in the final period, but Raleigh, as usual, refused to fold. The IceCaps drew to 3-2 on Derek Linnell's power-play goal with 13:10 left.
Then, with Mullahy off for an extra attacker, the IceCaps tied it on Lyle Wildgoose's spinning drive off the left goal post that bounced behind Ryder off an Express skate that Powers slapped in from the crease.
ICE CHIPS: The victory gave Roanoke a 4-0-1 record in its past five games, marking only the second time in franchise history it has gone five games without a regulation loss. ... Before getting the game-winner in the shootout, Laxdal saw what appeared to be his first ECHL goal waved off by referee Steve LeMay at the 5:33 mark of the second period. ... The crowd was the sixth-largest in franchise history. Roanoke had gone 1-3-1 before home crowds in excess of 7,000 before Saturday. ... The Russian line has produced 13 of Roanoke's 27 goals. ... The Express unveiled its new green warmup jerseys in the pregame skate ... Roanoke spends this week on the road, traveling to Raleigh on Friday and South Carolina on Saturday. The Express returns to home ice Nov.18 against Richmond.
by CNB