Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412020021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
The second triumph in two nights lifted Roanoke (11-5-3) into a second-place tie with Charlotte in the East Division with 25 points.
Ilya Dubkov scored twice for Roanoke, which handed Hampton Roads its first shutout in 124 games.
Hampton Roads, off to an uncharasterically slow start, is 8-9-2 and in last place in the East.
Hampton Roads coach John Brophy made his players skate sprints for 15 minutes after the game as many in the crowd of 5,473 jeered. Then he verbally blasted the Admirals in a post-game locker room tirade that lasted almost 20 minutes.
``They're over there celebrating, laughing at you and drinking beer,'' he said of the Express.
Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone said his team deserved to win.
"Our guys played well, very well," he said. "We weren't lucky tonight. We felt like we played hard and well.
"Usually we rely on Gagnon to make 40 saves, but tonight we had to rely on him a little less."
As for the post-game sprints, he said: "John Brophy's been around a long time and I'm in no position to question anything he does. He knows his team and he knows what he's doing."
After a luckluster, scoreless first period, Roanoke controlled play the rest of the way.
Hampton Roads goaltender Corwin Saurdiff held off the Express until near the end of a power play in the second period when Dubkov flipped in a high wrist shot over Saurdiff's left shoulder at 15 minutes, 5 seconds into the period.
The goal was made possible in large part by defenseman Mark Luger, who stationed himself in front of the goal.
Luger didn't budge, even when Admirals defenseman Chris MacInnis pounded him with his stick. Luger thus shielded Dobkov from Saurdiff's view, allowing him to score.
Hampton Roads appeared to tie the score at 7:12 of the third period when John Porco smacked a rebound of his own blocked shot past a sprawing Gagnon. However, referee John Murphy ruled Gagnon had been interfered with by Admirals forward Kelly Sorensen.
The goal was wiped off the scoreboard, and the Express was rewarded with a power play, one that broke the Admirals' back. Thirty seconds into the power play, Roanoke defenseman Dave Stewart sent a slap shot from the left circle into the net to give the Express a 2-0 lead.
Dubkov added an empty-net goal at 19:04 of the third period.
see microfilm for box score
by CNB