
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 20, 1995                   TAG: 9503210083
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C.                                LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS LOOKING FOR HELP

The Roanoke Express had the East Coast Hockey League's East Division championship within its grasp for the better part of a week.

Now, everything is out of its hands.

The Express dropped its last opportunity to clinch the division outright, absorbing an 8-4 pounding to the Raleigh IceCaps in the regular-season finale Sunday night.

Raleigh, one of only two clubs in the 18-team ECHL that will not make the playoffs, played as if it had nothing to lose. The division's last-place team buried the Express with four consecutive goals to take a 6-2 lead in the third period.

The loss, which extended Roanoke's winless streak to four games, combined with Richmond's 5-4 overtime victory over Hampton Roads on Sunday, leaves the Express with a one-point lead over the Renegades. Richmond beat Roanoke 5-0 on Saturday.

Richmond can win the division with a victory Tuesday in Greensboro.

``We're just tired and a little pressured,'' said Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone, whose club was playing for the ninth time in 12 days. ``We haven't had any easy games. Sometimes, things have to get worse before they get better. We've got to forget what was. That's basically where we're at.''

Raleigh (23-38-6), which was eliminated from the playoff picture with a 5-3 loss to Greensboro on Saturday, snapped a nine-game losing streak. IceCaps goalie Chad Erickson posted his first victory this season, improving his record to 1-8-1.

``We knew coming in that Frank and his boys were trying to clinch the division,'' said Rick Barkovich, Raleigh's coach. ``We didn't want to be the victim.''

The IceCaps scored two goals in each of the first two periods, then posted four in the third. Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume gave up six goals, the most he has surrendered since joining the Express on Feb.9.

After Roanoke's Craig Herr scored 25 seconds later to make it 6-3, Tony Szabo scored on a backhand as Anzalone elected to replace Berthiaume with an extra attacker.

When the Express tried a sixth attacker again, Raleigh's Lenny Pereira intercepted the puck and scored an empty-netter to make it 7-4. Justin Tomberlin's second goal of the game accounted for the final margin. The last goal was scored against backup goalie Dan Ryder.

``We're flat and falling behind in games,'' Anzalone said. ``That is not our style. It's the opposite. Our style is getting the lead and playing smart. We're not getting any luck - no puck luck offensively.''

The eight goals were the most given up by the Express this season.

NOTE: PLease see microfilm for scores.

by CNB