ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996 TAG: 9603220038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The necessities of the final weekend of the regular season are strikingly similar to the final weekend of last season for the Roanoke Express, only without a divisional title at stake.
The Express heads to Charlotte and Raleigh this weekend needing to accrue two points to lock up fourth place in the East Coast Hockey League's East Division, a spot that would keep it from having to meet East-leading Richmond in the first round of the Riley Cup playoffs.
A year ago, the Express was in a similar position but at a higher divisional altitude. With three games remaining last season, the Express needed just two points to wrap up the East Division title. With a championship on the line, Roanoke lost in a shootout to Charlotte then dropped decisions to Richmond and Raleigh to finish second behind the Renegades.
Roanoke, which plays at Charlotte tonight, leads Hampton Roads by two points in the standings, 77-75. If the Express doesn't get its two points this weekend and if Hampton Roads wins its home-and-home series against Richmond today and Saturday, the Admirals will get the No.4 spot.
``You know, we were in the same boat last year,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone, ``and we didn't get it done. I hope it doesn't happen again. These are two really tough games ahead of us. We know we have to get a win.''
If the Express is to win either game, it needs strong performances from whomever Anzalone puts in goal, either Daniel Berthiaume or Matt DelGuidice. Both have slumped a bit recently and both were pulled during the first periods of two games last week.
Berthiaume, who won his first nine shootouts, dropped to 1-3 in his past four after losing 4-3 to South Carolina last week.
Berthiaume is one victory from setting a franchise record for victories in a season. Berthiaume, whose 22-12-3 record includes 10 shootout victories, is tied with Dan Ryder, who won 22 games for Roanoke in 1993-94.
``I haven't played like I was,'' said Berthiaume. ``I haven't been patient, as sharp, lately. It's a good thing we won those first nine shootouts, or I would have a losing record. I need to play better in the playoffs.''
CLARKE ROLLS ON: When the final seconds of regulation ticked away in Tuesday's game, it appeared Jason Clarke had ended his streak of games with a penalty at a franchise-record 20. Heading into the overtime shootout, Clarke had skated unpenalized for 60 minutes.
However, after he had been stoned by South Carolina goalie Sean Gauthier in the third round of the shootout, someone on the Stingrays bench allegedly spit in Clarke's direction, prompting Clarke to skate over and cause a ruckus.
Referee Kevin Leaman handed Clarke a 10-minute misconduct, a rarity in a shootout.
The streak now is at 21.
ICE CHIPS: Express center Ilya Dubkov, who missed his first game in franchise history with a sore foot on Tuesday, and defenseman Dave Stewart, who was suspended for a game after getting his third game misconduct of the season on March 17, are expected to be back in the Express lineup tonight.
Rookie defenseman Tim Hanley is the only Express player to have played in all 68 games. Last year, three players (Dubkov, Stewart and Chris Potter) played in every Roanoke game. Two years ago, four players (Dubkov, Tony Szabo, Pat Ferschweiler and Oleg Yashin) did it. ...
Roanoke's penalty-killing percentage of 76.72 percent is ranked 18th out of 21 teams, but the team has improved markedly since a poor beginning. Over the past 46 games, Roanoke has killed 179 of 216 penalties (82.8 percent). ... The Express has scored a power-play goal in six straight games. Its power-play success rate is 26.1 percent in that span. ... Roanoke has not scored a shorthanded goal in 38 straight games. Its five shorthanded goals are second-lowest in the ECHL. Huntington has four.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB