Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 13, 1995 TAG: 9502140076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Earlier in the afternoon, the Express certainly didn't skate long enough with the Wheeling Thunderbirds.
In a 7-4 victory that was easier than it should have been, the T-Birds displayed why they are wheeling toward the Brabham Cup that goes to the East Coast Hockey League's best regular-season club.
The Express continued to show why it has been a mediocre team in 1995. Since winning New Year's night in Greensboro, N.C., the Express has lost 12 of 19 games.
``I don't think Wheeling was that great today,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``We let them in the game. We had mistakes and penalties by individuals, and they are the same individuals who keep making them.''
This isn't about affiliations or call-ups. Roanoke isn't a great offensive club, and whether the Express prospers during the remainder of the season likely will depend on goaltending and just how disciplined Anzalone's players perform.
In Sunday's loss, ECHL penalty-minutes leader Jason Clarke's time in the box in the second period only started the Express on the wrong track. However, there's no question Wheeling took control with its power play.
A crowd of 6,657 brought the Roanoke Civic Center's turnstile count to more than 14,250 for two games in less than 24 hours. They saw the Express give up the game as well as give up the puck.
One fan suggested that maybe the Express was tired, playing its third game in 48 hours. Well, two of those were at home. Wheeling went 3-0 on a weekend swing through Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke, winning the first two of those in overtime among bus rides.
``The biggest problem we have trying to step into the echelon of the top five or six clubs is that we have four or five guys who sometimes come out and play with very little intensity,'' Anzalone said. ``When you play three games in a row like this, it seems they can't maintain and be alert for all three. It's a mental thing, not a physical thing. We can't afford a letdown.''
``The team has to come first of all. Maybe people are putting egos in front of team goals. Maybe they're trying to show off for the crowd. We need to stay in control. It's about focus.''
Wheeling is 16-1-2 in its past 19 games. The first week of January, the Thunderbirds had a league-best 45 points. Roanoke, with three games in hand, had the best-percentage record in the ECHL, and only Wheeling and Charlotte had more points than Roanoke's 43.
The Express still has two games in hand on East Division-leading Richmond, but Roanoke's 60 points rank eighth in the 18-team league and leave the team 17 behind Wheeling. Tallahassee, 15 points behind the Express five weeks ago, is three behind.
If Anzalone said some players lose focus during a three-game weekend, how concerned must he be when he considers Sunday's loss begins a five-game week that continues Tuesday night at home against Greensboro?
Very.
``It's a terrible spot in the schedule,'' said the Express' coach, ``but every team goes through those. You just do the best you can.''
The best the Express can do might be behind them, because, offensively, Roanoke doesn't intimidate opponents. The club's 1,446 shots on goal are a league low. The goaltending has been superb most nights. It's had to be.
The Express has scored three goals or fewer in nine of the past 19 games. Anzalone's team is 1-4-4 in those games. No team has more overtime losses than Roanoke's eight.
The ``Roundhouse'' residents also areExpress also is the only ECHL club that hasn't come from behind to win at home when trailing after two periods. The Express is 2-10-2 overall when trailing after 40 minutes.
That's the result when a team struggles to score. That's why the Express can't afford to give up four goals in 191/2 minutes, as it did Sunday.
The Express has 19 regular-season games remaining. If those 19 produce the same number of points as the past 19 (7-8-4), Roanoke will finish with 78 points.
That's one more than last season. That was an expansion team. This could be an exasperating team.
by CNB