Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510230070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On offense.
Roanoke's defense came up big on both ends of the ice Saturday in a 4-3 victory over Hampton Roads at the Roanoke Civic Center. Defenseman Jon Larson scored two power-play goals and the Express finally limited an opponents' offensive opportunities.
Twenty-four hours after receiving an 8-2 caboose-kicking at Richmond, the Express handed its previously unbeaten Tidewater rival its first loss in four games.
Saturday was the first solid defensive effort of the young season for Roanoke (3-2), which had been raked for a league-high 22 goals in its first four games.
``We talked about that before the game,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``I know it's only Game 5, but I tell ya ...
``We weren't nearly as bad as the final score [Friday]. We were playing pretty well, only down 3-2 then they blew the lid off. ... We knew we had to focus on our `D.' We weren't getting it done.''
For most of three periods, the Express kept the Admirals in dry dock. Roanoke outshot Hampton Roads 35-28 and led 4-1 after Larson's second power-play goal early in the third.
The Admirals posted two third-period scores against Roanoke goalie Matt DelGuidice, who stopped 25 of 28 shots. One was a power-play score by Trevor Halverson that made it 4-2 with 16:33 left and the other came with four seconds to go when Aaron Downey notched an extra-attacker goal.
Other than that, Roanoke's forwards did a good job forechecking the big, physical Admirals and the defense - which has a mix of veterans and newcomers - finally clicked.
``It's been tough for the young guys when the older guys are making mistakes,'' said Michael Smith, a third-year defenseman. ``It doesn't give them much to look up to.''
Said Anzalone: ``Smith and [defenseman] Dave Stewart haven't played well and they know that. I told them to take a look in the mirror and check their game out. They took it to heart and did a good job.''
Larson's goals came on a pair of identical power-play slapshots from the left point that sizzled under and past Hampton Roads goalie Mark Bernard. The first made it 3-1 early in the second period and the second put the Express up 4-1 in the third. They were the first goals scored by an Express defenseman this season.
``I was just doing my job,'' said Larson, whose left-handed slapshot is reputed to be the hardest on the team. ``I got lucky on both. I was just trying to put them on the goal and hope for a rebound. Somehow, they went in.''
Roanoke's defense turned out to be its best offense, as Larson netted three points and defenseman Stewart had two assists and a big steal at center ice that set up Roanoke's go-ahead score.
In beating the Admirals for the fifth time in the past six meetings, the Express reeled off four straight goals after falling behind 1-0 when Serge Aubin tipped home a Rod Taylor pass from just left of the crease just 2:34 into the game.
Roanoke erased its deficit when Chris Potter and Craig Herr scored a pair of goals just 40 seconds apart.
Potter, a player who has gone from being a wing to a defenseman to a wing in his three years with Roanoke, notched his first goal of the season by shoveling a backhand through the legs of Bernard after Herr had won a faceoff with 14:10 left in the first.
Forty seconds later, Herr rocketed down ice on a breakaway after getting the puck from Stewart near center ice and beat Bernard through his pads.
DelGuidice made 12 saves in the first period, many while sprawled on the ice as he denied the Admirals on several point-blank attempts.
ICE CHIPS: Express center Ilya Dubkov sustained a nasty cut on his face in a freak accident during Friday's game at Richmond. Dubkov was on the bench when he was cut by the skate of left wing Brian Gallentine, who was leaping over the boards upon leaving the ice. ... The Express plays four straight road games before returning home Nov.3 to face Raleigh.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB