ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 30, 1995 TAG: 9601020085
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Shawn Wheeler scored two goals in the game's final five minutes and completed his hat trick with a 20th-round shootout goal as the Charlotte Checkers rallied to defeat the Roanoke Express 3-2 in an overtime shootout Friday night at Independence Arena.
With the Express leading 2-0 late in the game, Wheeler backhanded a fourth rebound behind Express goalie Matt DelGuidice with just 4:15 remaining in regulation.
Less than two minutes later, Darryl Noren carried the puck the length of the ice, crashed into DelGuidice as he centered a cross-crease backhand feed, and Wheeler again tapped in a backhander with just 2:41 remaining in regulation to tie the score 2-2.
After Dennis Maxwell tallied for Charlotte in round three of the shootout, Roanoke's Dave Holum kept the Express alive in round five to send it into sudden death.
Express defenseman Duane Harmer scored in round seven to give the Express the lead, but with the game on the line, Charlotte's Scott Kirton beat DelGuidice over the left shoulder to extend the action.
Charlotte netminder Nick Vitucci and DelGuidice proceeded to put on a spectacular goaltending display for 14 additional rounds, until Wheeler beat DelGuidice high in round 20, the longest shootout in either team's history.
The Express (18-15-1) lost for the first time in seven shootouts this season and blew a two-goal lead for the second straight game.
Roanoke's Jeff Jablonski opened the scoring midway through the second period, beating Vitucci high after a two-on-one backhanded centering feed from Ilya Dubkov at 8:45 of the second period.
With the second period winding down, and with the Express on its first power play of the game, Ilya Dubkov stopped a Charlotte clear, and his spin-around slapper from the point was deflected by Roanoke's L.P. Charbonneau with 8.5 seconds remaining for a 2-0 Express lead heading into the third period.
Charlotte (17-10-3), held the Express to a season-low 13 shots on net, while peppering DelGuidice with 41.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB