ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 24, 1997 TAG: 9703250030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. THE ROANOKE TIMES
South Carolina continues its mastery of the Express, winning for the second time in three days.
Curses!
That's what was heard from the Roanoke Express after another shootout loss to the South Carolina Stingrays. Curses of a different variety soon may be a topic of discussion for these Stingrays, following their 6-5 shootout victory in an East Coast Hockey League matinee Sunday at the Roanoke Civic Center.
South Carolina won its fourth straight over the Express and is 7-1-1 against Roanoke this season, with three of those victories coming in shootouts.
The victory improved South Carolina's chances of winning the Brabham Cup, which goes to the team with the highest point total and generally has bestowed bad playoff luck upon the winner.
No Brabham Cup winner has won the playoffs, which used to be called the Riley Cup playoffs. This year, it's the Kelly Cup.
``We're not even talking about the Brabham Cup,'' said South Carolina coach Rick Vaive, whose team leads the East Division with a league-leading 96 points. ``Since they've changed it to the Kelly Cup, maybe the jinx is off. Hey, we haven't won anything yet.''
Even though the Express didn't win, the point it earned in the shootout was enough to forge a tie with Richmond - which lost 4-2 to Hampton Roads - for third place in the East. The third-place finisher in the East likely would begin the playoffs outside the division and probably would have home-ice advantage in that round.
That wasn't necessarily on the minds of the Express after losing a shootout to the Stingrays for the second time during the weekend. Overcoming a three-goal deficit to force the shootout wasn't much solace, either.
``It seems so anticlimactic,'' said Frank Anzalone, Roanoke's coach.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first 16 minutes, the Express (37-24-6) scored three straight to tie it. Then, the Stingrays scored twice on rebounds to go ahead 5-3.
Roanoke's J.F. Tremblay scored his second goal of the game by tipping in a Duane Harmer power-play drive at 15:46 of the second. Harmer then beat tied it on the power play with a shot from the left faceoff circle with 8:16 to play.
The Stingrays won with three shootout goals against Express netminder Dave Gagnon. Jason Cipolla's third-round tally was the winner. Chris Lipsett was the only Express player to push it past South Carolina goalie Taras Lendzyk.
``They have great individual talent,'' Anzalone said of the Stingrays. ``We played really well, but just weren't rewarded.''
Harmer finished with four points on one goal and three assists. Jeff Jablonski scored his 49th goal of the season to make it 3-1 late in the first, then Tim Christian and Tremblay scored to tie it.
After surrendering three goals on the first five shots, Gagnon was pulled for the final 4:42 of the first period and replaced by Matt Carmichael. Gagnon returned and played effectively in the final two periods, but is 2-6 in shootouts.
``We need to get a lead in these shootouts for Dave,'' Anzalone said. ``We gave it a good effort, but we don't do enough in the shootout.''
ICE CHIPS: Saturday's crowd of 8,650 for Roanoke's 3-2 victory over Richmond was the Express' first sellout this season. ... Jablonski scored his 16th power-play goal this season. The previous Express record was 14 by Tony Szabo in 1993-94. ... Gagnon owned a 3.16 goals-against average entering the game, tied for eighth-lowest in the league. ... The Express is off until Friday, when it plays host to Raleigh. Hampton Roads comes to town Saturday, then the regular season ends at Raleigh on March 30. NOTE: please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRAD THE ROANOKE TIMES. South Carolina goalie Tarasby CNBLendzyk blocks a diving shot by Roanoke's Chris Lipsett in the first
period Sunday at the civic center. The Express' Sean Brown backs up
Lipsett and looks for the rebound. color.