ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 30, 1996 TAG: 9612020105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
A Hampton Roads Admirals team whose defense has been decimated by call-ups and injuries played perhaps its best defensive game of the season Friday.
Limiting Roanoke to just 21 shots, the Admirals rolled over the Express 6-2 before 8,441 spectators at Scope.
Dominic Maltais had two goals, Victor Gervais a goal and two assists and Randy Pearce a goal and two assists. But it may have been an unexpected boost from defenseman Chris Phelps that helped the Admirals.
Phelps was called up by Portland earlier this month, but returned to Norfolk 10 days ago because his year-old daughter became ill. Phelps was temporarily pressed into service Friday after defenseman Mike Larkin fell ill with food poisoning, a loss that reduced the Admirals to three defensemen.
Among the remaining three defenders was Chad Ackerman, who played with a broken toe.
Playing in makeshift gear cobbled together by equipment manager Gary Mansfield, including pants that wore the emblem of the Buffalo Sabres, Phelps had three assists and a sterling defensive game.
``We played as well in our own end as we have all season,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``And how about Phelpsie, playing like that after being out for as long as he's been out? It was a great effort.''
Phelps won't play tonight when the Admirals (11-6-2) travel to Roanoke, but Larkin is expected to return and Phelps may join the team Sunday in Raleigh. Larkin was so sick that he curled up in a sleeping bag on the locker room floor during the game.
Phelps said he felt no ill effects from playing after not practicing for nearly 10 days, with the exception of some soreness caused by playing in stiff, new equipment.
``I haven't seen the team in awhile, but this was the best defensive effort I've seen,'' Phelps said. ``It's the best we've played as a team.
``The defense started with the forwards. They're forechecking as well now as I've ever seen this team forecheck.''
After Maltais put Hampton Roads up 6-2 just 1:46 into the third period, the Admirals did their best to let Roanoke back in the game. Joel Theriault gave Roanoke a power play with an interference minor, then got a 10-minute misconduct at 8:43.
Fifty seconds later, Pearce got a hooking minor, then drew an unsportsmanlike conduct minor for throwing his stick in the air. Theriault then drew a game misconduct for yelling at referee Terry Koharski from the penalty box, leaving Hampton Roads with three defensemen for the remainder of the game.
It all left Roanoke with a 5-on-3 power play, and a chance to cut the margin to two goals.
But the Admirals killed the penalties, with goalie Darryl Paquette stopping what appeared to be a sure goal with a glove save as he was sprawled on the ice.
The defensive stop came after a porous game Wednesday in Knoxville, in which the Admirals surrendered four fourth-period goals.
``We played a bad game in Knoxville and we all knew it,'' Maltais said. ``We were determined to make this a 60-minute game.''
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines KEYWORDS: HOCKEYby CNB