ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512180116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
When the Roanoke Express and the Richmond Renegades have played one another, some of the most memorable moments occur after regulation has ended.
That was certainly true two weeks ago, when the Express beat the Renegades in back-to-back sudden-death shootouts, and it was true again following Richmond's 3-2 win over the Express before 6,104 Roanoke Civic Center fans Saturday night.
Although the game ended in regulation - as Richmond goalie Grant Sjerven gloved a Dave Stewart shot at the final horn with Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume out and the Express skating 6-on-4 - things didn't end there.
Both teams stayed on the ice, as players from both sides pushed, shoved and clutched one another. Roanoke's Jason Clarke and Richmond's Jay Murphy had to be separated, then Clarke and Richmond coach Roy Sommer sparred verbally.
``Richmond can't walk off easy,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``They were mouthing off. That tends to make the team that lost mad.''
Clarke received a roughing penalty during the mob scene, and the Richmond bench was assessed an unsportsmanlike penalty, probably for Sommer's tete-a-tete with Clarke.
All of this would likely fade from memory soon if not for the fact that the teams meet again next Friday in Richmond.
``When Roanoke comes in Friday, they better bring their battle gear,'' said Sommer, who was still steamed at Clarke after the game. ``I told him [Clarke] he'd better be ready to go. He thinks he can play like that in his own building. [Clarke will] be shaking when he gets out of here.''
The Express can't look too far ahead. Roanoke will try to end a season-high three-game losing streak today when it hosts Tallahassee at 3 p.m.
``We've got to fight our way out of this,'' said Anzalone.
Roanoke, which will play for the third time in less than 48 hours today, let two leads slip away against the Renegades before Richmond's Todd Sparks scored the game-winner with 17:14 left in the game by swooping in and knocking home a loose puck by Berthiaume after Richmond defenseman Mike Burman lost the puck just in front of the goal.
Anzalone pulled Berthiaume with 1:18 left, then gained a two-man advantage when Garry Gulash was penalized for high-sticking with 1 minute left.
It was a frantic final 60 seconds, with Stewart's last-ditch right-point try Roanoke's best scoring opportunity.
The Express limited the Renegades to 26 shots, but squeezed off only 25 against a Richmond team that is allowing the fewest shots per game (22.9). Roanoke got goals from Jeff Jablonski, his 10th in seven games, and Jeff Jestadt, his first in eight games.
Roanoke has not scored more than three goals in its past four games.
``The only guy scoring is Jablonski,'' said Jestadt. ``He's not getting a lot of help. A lot of guys have got to step up, including me. I've been in a slump.''
Roanoke took leads of 1-0 and 2-1 only to see the Renegades retaliate quickly both times.
The Express scored first at 8:11 of the first off a clean 2-on-1 rush. Chris Potter dug the puck off the boards and put a crisp pass on Ilya Dubkov's stick to start the rush, then Dubkov centered on the fly to Jablonski, who went top shelf over Sjerven.
Richmond tied it three minutes later when Kurt Mallett scored a power-play goal off a shot from the right circle that sizzled over Berthiaume's right shoulder.
Roanoke regained the lead in the second period thanks to a series of great plays by defenseman Dave Stewart in a span of about five seconds.
First, with the Express less than 10 seconds away from killing a Richmond power-play, Stewart blocked Brian Goudie's slapshot then pushed the puck out of the zone and chased it down just outside the Roanoke zone.
Stewart zoomed down the right wing, gave a fake that sent Sjerven sprawling and centered the puck for Jeff Jestadt, who scored into the empty goal at 12:44.
Again, Richmond respnded swiftly. Just 3:09 after Roanoke scored, the Renegades got loose on a breakout, Mike Taylor left a between-the-legs back pass for Darren Wetherill. Berthiaume blocked his shot from between the circles, but Jason Mallon put the rebound home.
``That was the goal that killed us,'' said Anzalone. ``Stewie ignited the place with that incredible play, then we do nothing for about three shifts. Then they (the Renegades) blow four guys out on a faceoff and beat us down the ice. As many good hockey players as we had on the ice, that's not acceptable.''
``We haven't been able to maintain momentum lately. We score a goal then give up a goal. We've got to keep momentum when we have it. If you don't, you don't win hockey games.''
ICE CHIPS: Richmond was missing a couple of its stalwarts. Brendan Flynn was called up by Providence of the AHL last week and Trevor Senn was serving a five-game suspension after throwing his stick into the stands in a game against South Carolina last Tuesday at the Richmond Coliseum.... Fans can skate with Express players immediately following today's game. Fans must bring their own skates.
Richmond 1-1-1 - 3
Roanoke 1-1-0 - 2
First period-1, Roanoke, Jablonski 18 (Dubkov, Potter), 8:11; 2, Richmond, Mallett 9 (Carpenter, Hadden), 11:12, pp. Penalties-Gruhl, Ri (roughing), 8:41; Gruhl, Ri, major (fighting), 8:41; Herr, Ro, major (fighting), 8:41; Clarke, Ro (boarding), 9:20; Hadden, Ri (kneeing), 13:46; Stewart, Ro (cross-checking), 14:59; Roy, Ri (hooking), 17:12.
Second period-3, Roanoke, Jestadt 11 (Stewart), 12:44; 4, Richmond, Mallon 5 (Wetherill, Taylor), 15:53. Penalties-Smith, Ro (holding), 10:43.
Third period-5, Richmond, Sparks 8 (Burman, Roy), 2:46. Penalties-Clarke, Ro, major (fighting), 6:59; Murphy, Ri, major (fighting), 6:59; Gulash, Ri (high-sticking), 10:07; Gulash, Ri, major (fighting), 10:07; Charbonneau, Ro, major (fighting), 10:07; Gulash, Ri (cross-checking), 19:00; Bench, Ri (unsportsmanlike), 20:00; Clarke, Ro (roughing), 20:00.
Shots on goal-Richmond 8-15-3 26. Roanoke 8-11-6 25.
Power-play opportunities-Richmond 1 of 3. Roanoke 0 of 5.
Goalies-Richmond, Sjerven W (25 shots-23 saves). Roanoke, Berthiaume L (26-23).
Referee-Jeff Smith. Linesmen-Kevin Kierst, Dana Hall.
A-6,104.
LENGTH: Long : 112 linesby CNB