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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 25, 1995                   TAG: 9503270055
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS PREPARING FOR PIVOTAL GAME

The Express flattened the Cherokees 6-1 in the first game of the Riley Cup Playoffs on Thursday night. Roanoke has the advantage now, but a Knoxville victory would not only even the best-of-five series at 1-1, it would send the series to Knoxville, Tenn., for two games.

This shapes up as the most pivotal game of the series. The two teams face off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Civic Center.

``We just want to win one here,'' said Barry Smith, Knoxville's coach. ``Whether it was [Thursday night] or Saturday or next Wednesday, we know we have to win one game in this building. That's our goal.''

Smith knows the best way to accomplish that.

``We have to play more aggressive,'' he said.

That has to be of concern to the Express. The Cherokees, who accrued 43 penalty minutes in the first period on Thursday, played physical hockey even though they never threatened to get back in the game after trailing 2-0 in the first period.

Darwin McClelland found out first-hand how aggressive Knoxville can be. McClelland took a shot to the face in the first period and had to be helped to the dressing room, where he received 14 stitches just above his upper lip.

Then again, don't ask McClelland.

``I don't remember much after that,'' he said. ``That was a pretty good shot.''

The Cherokees can put a huge lineup on the ice. Twelve players on the Knoxville playoff roster stand taller than six feet and weigh more than 200 pounds. The defensemen - like 6-foot-5, 230-pound Alain Deeks and 6-4, 210-pound Justin Hocking - are especially imposing.

``We're not going to outmuscle a team like that,'' said Roanoke center Joe Hawley.

When Hawley scored a second-period goal by outskating the defense and putting the puck past Knoxville goalie Cory Cadden, he demonstrated what may be Roanoke's best weapon in this series - speed.

The key will be whether or not Knoxville can wear down the Express with its size. There will be little time to rest and recover in this series. If it goes the full five games, there will be only two days off.

``We just need to come out and accomplish in Game 2 what we accomplished in Game 1,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach. ``We've got to stay stable.''