Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
The victory kept Roanoke (36-16-9) in a first-place tie with Richmond, which defeated Johnstown, in the ECHL's East Division and still has a shot at matching the league record of 21 road victories. The Express plays two of its final seven games away from the Roanoke Civic Center.
``We're just trying to play hard, build our endurance physically and mentally, so that we're as sharp and as ready as we can be when the playoffs begin,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach. ``We haven't even talked about first place, because that burns guys out mentally. We just want to be ready for the playoffs.''
Hampton Roads (33-23-6) saw its hopes for repeating as division champion all but end.
Ilya Dubkov, Darwin McClelland and Tony Szabo scored the goals for Roanoke, which was outshot 11-9 in the opening period but got another strong effort in goal from Daniel Berthiaume. In large part because of Berthiaume, who finished with 25 saves, the Express has won 10 of its past 11 games.
Hampton Roads began its comeback on a slap shot by Tom Menucci with 1:22 gone in the second period.
Rob McInnis cut the Admirals' deficit to a goal when he scored at 6:05 of the third period with a screened wrist shot from just inside the blue line.
Coach John Brophy replaced Hampton Roads goalie Corwin Saurdiff with an extra attacker for the final 1:50, but the Admirals could not get off a shot on goal. The Express did not give up a shot in the final nine minutes. (Summary in Scoreboard. B2)
``They came into our building and shut us down,'' said John Brophy, Hampton Roads' coach. `` ... They played very well.''
by CNB