ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
So this is the team the Roanoke Express wanted to face in the first round of the East Coast Hockey League's Riley Cup playoffs?
For several weeks, the Express tried to play its way into a position to meet the Charlotte Checkers rather than the league's regular-season champion Richmond Renegades.
Tonight in Charlotte, N.C., the Express gets its wish when it begins a series against a Checkers team that owned the Express during the regular season, winning seven of 10 meetings.
``I might be wacky,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach, ``but I believe with great desire, great goaltending and great execution, we can beat Charlotte in the first round of the playoffs.''
If Anzalone is wacky, then toss him in a loony bin with Charlotte coach John Marks, who believes the goaltending tandem of Daniel Berthiaume and Matt DelGuidice makes the Express a dangerous first-round opponent. The duo combined for a 35-23-6 record with a 3.35 goals-against average during the regular season.
``With their two goaltenders, they're not just capable of winning a series,'' Marks said, ``they're capable of winning a championship.''
Even though the Checkers don't appear to be as formidable as the defending Riley Cup champs from Richmond, their 94 points ranked third in the league during the regular season.
Roanoke, which finished fourth in the ECHL's East Division with a 36-28-6 record and 78 points, will need to build a brick wall around the net if it wants to get past the Checkers. Three of Roanoke's regulation losses to the Checkers were by three or more goals.
Charlotte scored four or more goals against Roanoke six times and outscored Roanoke 41-29 in 10 games.
On the plus side, three of Roanoke's seven losses to Charlotte came in shootouts, which aren't used in playoffs. Games tied after regulation will go to a five-minute overtime period - and more overtimes, if necessary.
``We've got to play physical with them,'' Anzalone said. ``If they take it to us early, we're not going to win. It's as simple as that.''
Roanoke went 2-2-2 in its last four games, but the Checkers didn't close strong either by going 2-4-0 in their last six.
The Express must contain Charlotte's potent offense, especially the Darryl Noren-Shawn Wheeler-Phil Berger line, which tallied 12 goals against the Express this season. Noren had six of them.
``We need to hit as much as they do, take the body,'' said Express defenseman Dave Stewart, who, like several Roanoke veterans, has struggled against the Checkers. ``This is going to be a rough series.''
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB