ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512270071
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Just when it looked like its offense had settled in for a long winter's nap, the Roanoke Express awoke with lumps of goals as part of its holiday loot.
By lighting up the Hampton Roads Admirals like a Christmas tree in a 9-4 Saturday night in the Roanoke Civic Center, the Express put an end to its franchise-record five-game losing streak by scoring more goals in one night than it had in its last five games combined. A public reading of ""'Twas the Night Before Christmas'' had more mystery than Saturday's game, as Roanoke (17-14-0) gift-wrapped the Admirals with a five-goal first period. It was 8-3 after two. This, against a team that beatRoanoke 8-1 on Dec. 15.
""Obviously, we had been questioning ourselves,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ""Everyone was questioning us. This organization has never lost. This organization is not used to losing. Our fans aren't used to losing.''
Hampton Roads (15-6-10) usually isn't accustomed to defeats, either, but the Admirals have not win in four games.
To add insult to injury, Hampton Roads coach John Brophy was doused by a cup of beer by a Roanoke fan as the head Admiral left the ice after the game.
""Whole beer? It felt like a quart,'' said Brophy, who refused to press charges against the fan.
""It was a bad night.''
Express rookie right wing Tim Christian continued to have a happy holiday season by netting his first professional hat trick, giving him five goals in two nights.
""I'm just trying to play my game,'' said Christian, who scored twice in a 4-2 loss at Richmond on Friday. ""Right now, the puck's just bouncing my way.''
Jeff Jablonski had two goals and three assists, matching his season assist total in just one game. Jason Clarke scored a pair of goals for Roanoke.
Goalie Daniel Berthiaume (8-4) ended a personal four-game losing streak by turning aside 40 shots.
The first period alone was a virtual Express highlight film. In what was most likely the team's best 20 minutes of hockey this season - including a five-goal third period against Wheeling on Dec. 5 - the Express scored five goals for just the third time in franchise history.
Twenty minutes was all it took for Jablonski and Clarke to score twice, for the Express to take a 5-0 lead and for Berthiaume to show that Hampton Roads goals would be about as difficult to come by as Holiday Barbies.
Roanoke's goals were as plentiful as snowflakes, as Dave Stewart began a veritable blizzard with a power-play slapshot at 3:01.
Jablonski's shorthanded breakaway goal 16 seconds later made it 2-0 and Clarke made it 3-0 on a picture-perfect two-man rush by tipping in Dave Holum's centering pass at 7:52.
Brophy replaced goalie Todd Hunter with Mark Bernard, but he couldn't slow the Express, as Jablonski beat him with a one-timer from the slot off an Ilya Dubkov assist on a power play. Dubkov made a great play on the fifth goal by spinning and shoveling a backhanded pass from center ice to Clarke, who launched a wide-open missile from the right circle that beat Bernard stick-side at 17:51.
Meanwhile, Berthiaume made some flashy saves, highlighted by a lightning-quick glove snare of a Rod Taylor one-timer midway through the period.
""Look, we said in the locker room weneeded to come out confident,'' said Anzalone. ""We needed to be confident that bad things weren't going to happen.''
The first period almost appeared tame when compared to the flurry of scoring in the second period, when the two teams scored six goals - three each - in a span of 5:08. The Express answered each Hampton Roads score: Sean Selmser, Serge Aubin and Aaron Downey scored for the Admirals in a span of 3:34, but Christian scored his first two goals and Chris Potter bounced a shot off a Hampton Roads player in response.
Christian's third goal made it 9-3 at 7:47 of the third, as a few Roanoke fans tossed their hats onto the ice. Jeff Kostuch scored Hampton Roads' last goal with 4:49 to play.
""Things got bad for us the same way they did for them (the Express) at our place,'' said Brophy. ""Bad things went against us in that first period. They had tip-ins, everything. All the breaks. It's Christmas.''
ICE CHIPS: Defenseman Nick Jones, who was waived by the Express last month but had gone unclaimed and was still practicing with the Express, was claimed by the Johnstown Chiefs and will leave town Tuesday. ... Defenseman Mike Larkin, the last player cut from Roanoke's training camp, was signed by Hampton Roads on Friday.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for statistics.
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Eric Brady. 1. In above photo, Express right wing Timby CNBChristian tips the puck toward Admirals goalie Mark Bernard during
the first. 2. In above right photo, the puck beats Bernard to make
it 5-0. color.