ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 30, 1996 TAG: 9604010118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
The Charlotte Checkers moved forward with their power play and the Roanoke Express fell behind on the scoreboard.
Such was the story of Roanoke's 3-0 loss at Charlotte in Wednesday night's opener of the East Coast Hockey League's Riley Cup playoffs. If the Express continues to empower the Checkers, it could find itself trailing 2-0 and facing elimination in this best-of-five series.
Game 1 was decided on power plays. Charlotte, which used a daring lineup of five forwards on its power plays, scored each of its three goals with a man advantage. The Express, meanwhile, was shut out on all six of its power-play opportunities.
The Express could take solace that it skated even with the Checkers when both teams had five men on the ice.
``The story of the game is that we were playing well, then we took some bad penalties,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``We allowed their talented players to play in open ice.''
The Checkers' talent level was high with a man advantage because coach John Marks elected to begin his power plays with five forwards and no defensemen. Darryl Noren, Matt Robbins, Kimbi Daniels, Phil Berger and Dennis Maxwell logged much of the power-play time.
Such a lineup is a gamble because it gives the opponent a chance to get a short-handed rush against players who aren't used to skating backwards and playing defense. Then again, the Express was the only team in the ECHL which did not score a short-handed goal on the road this season.
When Marks had to change players during a power play, he usually sent a defenseman onto the ice.
``I send some defensemen for the second part [of power plays] so we have one [defenseman] on the ice when their guys come out of the box,'' said Marks. ``It might seem like a gamble to use that set-up in the first game of the playoffs. I have confidence in our guys handling the puck and doing a good job out there.''
The Express is hoping for a split in Charlotte before returning to Roanoke for Game 3 on Tuesday.
``We know we're still in it,'' said Express defenseman Dave Stewart. ``They had three power-play goals. We know we can't be in the [penalty] box with these guys. We feel pretty good about what we did five-on-five. Penalties hurt us. We've got to quit taking 'em.''
FORCED BUSING: Since there is no ice in the Roanoke Civic Center this weekend, the Express will ride a bus to Winston-Salem, N.C., after tonight's game, where it will practice on Monday.
The Express will return to Roanoke on Monday afternoon and will have a light practice in the civic center Tuesday morning.
BAD BROPHY: The Hampton Roads-Richmond series was marred with fights, controversy and suspensions ... and that was before the series began.
Hampton Roads coach John Brophy was suspended by ECHL commissioner Pat Kelly for the first two games of the playoffs for failing to maintain control of his players in the regular-season finale against the Renegades last week. Brophy was ordered not to set foot in the Richmond Coliseum for either of the first two games.
Mike Barrie was suspended for six games for leaving the penalty box to join a fight and Aaron Downey received three games for intending to injure Richmond's Trevor Senn. No Richmond players received suspensions.
LENGTH: Medium: 64 linesby CNB