ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512100024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DANIEL BERTHIAUME earns his seventh straight victory in goal for Roanoke, stopping 31 shots.
Daniel Berthiaume recorded the fifth shutout in Roanoke Express franchise history Friday in a 3-0 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays.
Berthiaume, a winner for the seventh consecutive game - six shy of his East Coast Hockey League record - stopped several shots in spectacular fashion in the third period. Berthiaume robbed the Stingrays' Jason Cipolla twice in a span of 30 seconds on blunt one-timers within 15 feet of the Express net.
Paul Croteau opened the scoring midway through the first period. Chris Potter carried the puck in along the left wing and spun around at the left point, dropping the puck back to Croteau. Through heavy traffic, Croteau's left-point blast deflected through Eric Raymond's pads at the 12:14 mark for Croteau's first goal as a professional, and the only goal of the period.
The one-goal lead existed until the third period, when defenseman Jon Larson bombed a 50-foot power play drive over Raymond's glove at 5:20. Jeff Jablonski rounded out the scoring with a late breakaway goal, beating Raymond high over the glove with the backhand for his seventh goal in the past four games and team-leading 15th of the season.
Berthiaume's shutout was his first regular-season shutout since as a member of the Los Angeles Kings in 1992 in Chicago Stadium against the Blackhawks. He had a shutout against the Richmond Renegades in last season's Riley Cup playoffs.
The Express (16-9-0) extended its winning streak to four overall and fourth straight on the road. The Express also won for the fifth straight time in South Carolina, and has not lost in North Charleston since the first road game in franchise history, 7-6, in October of 1993.
South Carolina (7-11-2) has won just once in the past eight games, and just twice in nine overall home games this season after setting an ECHL record for consecutive home wins last season, 19.
ICE CHIPS: Raymond made his first appearance in more than a month, as Sean Gauthier's streak ended at 10 straight games started for the Stingrays ... The Express, the ECHL's worst penalty-killing unit last week, killed off all eight South Carolina power plays and has killed off 15 in a row over the past two-plus games ... Scratched for the Express were forwards L.P. Charbonneau and Mike Stacchi.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 linesby CNB