ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 1, 1997 TAG: 9701020048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: HOLIDAY
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
After the first period Tuesday night, the Roanoke Express must have thought the New Year couldn't arrive quickly enough. Roanoke trailed 3-0 after the opening stanza after being outshot 15-3 by the homestanding Charlotte Checkers.
However, the Express rallied in the second period with four goals and went on to defeat Charlotte 5-4 in an East Coast Hockey League game.
Chris Lipsette's goal at 11:04 of the third period capped Roanoke's comeback. Lipsette fired a deflected shot by Matt O'Dette past Checkers goalie Nick Vitucci to give Roanoke its third consecutive road win.
It was O'Dette who started the rally in the second period. He scored his fourth goal of the season, followed by two from Jeff Jablonski and one by Jeff Cowan as Roanoke took a 4-3 lead at the end of the period. Jablonski scored his 20th goal on the power play and later added his 21st.
Charlotte's Mick Elik fired a screen shot past goalie Dave Gagnon at 10:13 of the third period to knot the score at 4. Less than a minute later, Lipsette scored the game-winner.
The Checkers (16-10-3) lost for just the second time at home this season.
Gagnon stopped 31 of 35 shots to improve his record to 16-7-3. The Express (18-11-3) will play at Knoxville on Friday and Saturday night.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB