Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 11, 1994 TAG: 9412140089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Gagnon, making his sixth consecutive start for Roanoke, broke out of a mini-slump with several acrobatic saves in a crucial second period for the Express.
After Raleigh defender Brett Duncan beat Gagnon with a blue-line drive midway through the first period, Gagnon closed the door and the Express offense opened up.
Ferschweiler, who returned after a one-game call-up to Minnesota of the IHL, sparked the Roanoke offense.
After failing to convert on any of four power-play opportunities in the first period, the Express tied the score at 1-1 just 1:44 into the secod period when defenseman Dave Stewart beat Raleigh goaltender Brad Mullahy.
After a flurry of Gagnon heroics, Ferschweiler deflected a Michael Smith drive through heavy traffic from the left point past Mullahy to give the Express a 2-1 lead at 14:47 it would carry into the third period.
In franchise history, the Express (34-0-3) never have lost a game in regulation when leading after two periods, and Darwin McClelland made sure it wouldn't happen in his second game for Roanoke by ripping home a Ferschweiler corner feed at 9:27 of the third for a 3-1 Express lead.
Scott MacNair's power-play rebound cut the Express lead to one with just under six minutes remaining, but Ferschweiler iced the game with an empty-net goal with just 17 seconds remaining.
Roanoke (13-6-4) won its second straight at Dorton Arena this season, and it was the fourth time this season the Express has followed a loss with a win. Roanoke has lost two in a row only once all season - the second, third and fourth games.
Raleigh (10-13-3) extended its worst home record in the ECHL to 2-8-0 with the defeat, and the second in two nights at home.
ICE CHIPS: Recent Express castoffs suggest the ECHL East may once again be the beast of divisions. Robin Bouchard, who had one goal in 10 games with Roanoke before being traded to Columbus, recorded eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in his first four games with the Chill ... Center Steve Phillips, after being waived for the second time by Roanoke, has five goals and two assists in eight games with Nashville after two scoreless games with the Express ... Ferschweiler recorded four shots and a rating of minus-1 in his debut during the Minnesota Moose's 3-2 shootout victory at Houston on Friday ... Former Express defender Nick Wohlers also made his Moose debut Friday ... Goaltender Dan Ryder turned aside 35 of 36 shots in his first appearance this season for the Kansas City Blades, a 5-1 victory at Phoenix on Thursday. But Ryder was pulled after allowing four first-period goals in Milwaukee on Friday, as the Admirals defeated Kansas City 9-2 ... The Express face Richmond and Greensboro in a weekend doubleheader in Roanoke next Friday and Saturday.
Roanoke 0-2-2-4
Raleigh 1-0-1-2
First period-Raleigh, Duncan (Riehl, Reirden), 11:47. Penalties-Ro, Stewart (tripping), 3:39; Ra, Povar (holding), 9:44); Ra, Oliwa (hooking), 9:30; Ra, Linnell (hooking), 12:24; Ra, Linnell (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:24.
Second period-Roanoke, Stewart (Yashin, Dubkov), 1:44, pp; Roanoke, Ferschweiler (Smith, Potter), 14:47. Ra, Pereira (holding stick), :30; Ra, Blessman (misconduct), :30; Oliwa (tripping), 5:34; Ra, Blessman (game misconduct), 5:39; Ro, Clarke (fighting, misconduct) major penalty, 8:26; Ra, Meany (fighting, misconduct), major penalty, 8:26; Ro, Yashin (interference), 10:29; Ra, Chunchukov (high-sticking), 10:29.
Third period-Roanoke, McClelland (Ferschweiler), 9:27; Raleigh, MacNair (Reirden, Wildgoose), 14:08, pp; Roanoke, Ferschweiler (Stewart), 19:00, en. Ra, Duncan (holding), 12:00; Ro, McClellend (tripping),13:40; Ro, Herr (fighting), major penalty, 17:29; Periera (fighting), major penalty, 17:29; Ra, Mullahy (roughing), 17:29; Ra, Lindsayserving rough minor), 17:29; Ro, team (failure to go to bench), 17:29; Ra, team (failure to go to bench), 17:29.
Shots on goal-Roanoke 10 11 10-31, Raleigh 11 8 9-28.
Goalies-Roanoke, Gagnon (28 shots-26 saves), Trentadue (0-0). Raleigh, Mullahy (31-27), Hunter (59:21, 0-0).
Power play opportunities-Roanoke, 1 of 7. Raleigh, 1 of 4.
Referee-Matt Dunne. Linesmen-Tim Bennett, Dana Hall.
A-4,556
Roanoke:
Ferschweiler (7,8)
Stewart (5)
McClelland (3
Raleigh:
Duncan (2)
MacNair (4)
by CNB