ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 1997 TAG: 9704020034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. THE ROANOKE TIMES
The Roanoke Express hopes to change its recent playoff fortunes in series with Admirals.
At least the Roanoke Express knows it won't lose another Riley Cup Playoff game. It won't win one, either.
The question: Can it win a Kelly Cup Playoff game? Better yet, can it score against the seemingly impenetrable Hampton Roads Admirals in a Kelly Cup Playoff game?
The Express hopes the name isn't the only change that occurs in the East Coast Hockey League's postseason. When it begins its best-of-five first-round series tonight in Norfolk at 7:30, the Express will be seeking its first playoff victory in two years.
The Admirals, meanwhile, are seeking their first ECHL title since 1992, when they won their second of back-to-back championships. Hampton Roads finished with 97 points in the ECHL standings, behind only South Carolina's 100, and enters the playoffs on a four-game winning streak behind the league's hottest goaltender, Darryl Paquette, who ended the season with a league-record three straight shutouts.
``They didn't get 97 points by accident,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone.
No, they got them in typical Admirals style: aggressive play, excellent defense and quality goaltending. Roanoke has perhaps the toughest first-round draw of any of the 16 playoff teams, despite the fact that the Express finished with the seventh-highest point total (82) in the ECHL.
Two years ago, that would have given the Express home-ice advantage and a first-round match-up against the 10th-seeded team (this year, that would be Dayton). However, for two seasons the ECHL has started the playoffs within divisions in order to cut down on travel and, hopefully, beef up attendance, which historically drops off from regular-season attendance.
So, the Express is seeded fourth in the East and takes on the No.2 Admirals.
``I certainly would like to have home ice,'' said Anzalone. ``I understand the owners are very concerned about travel. It would just be nice to play at home.''
If there is an advantage to playing on the road, it's that the Express is 3-1-0 at the Norfolk Scope, the Admirals' home rink. Conversely, Hampton Roads is 5-0-0 in Roanoke this season.
Game 2 of the series will be in Norfolk on Friday night at 7:30. The series moves to Roanoke Saturday for Game 3 at 7:30 p.m., and Game 4 (if necessary) Sunday at 6 p.m. If there is a fifth game, it will be played in Norfolk next Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m.
If the Express is to get past the first round, it will need stellar efforts from its defense and from goaltender Dave Gagnon, perhaps the most successful goalie in ECHL playoff history. Gagnon was the playoffs' Most Valuable Player when Hampton Roads won in 1991 and again in 1993 with ECHL champ Toledo. He is 22-3 all-time in the ECHL playoffs.
``It all comes down to how well our defense plays,'' said Anzalone, and ``how much support we can give Dave Gagnon.''
It would help if someone picked up the scoring slack. Jeff Jablonski all but carried the Express the last month of the season after the team lost players to call-ups. Jablonski finished with a career-high and franchise-record 52 goals.
He can't do it alone, though. Ilya Dubkov, Jeff Loder, Tim Christian and Chris Lipsett, among others, will be asked to carry more of the load if the Express plans on extending its season into mid-April.
``Championship teams get contributions from their No.5, 6, 7 guys,'' said Jablonski. ``I believe we have some guys on this team who are ready to step up. This is a group that can turn it up a notch.''
Those players will try to slide the puck past Paquette's brick wall. Paquette ended the season with a league-record scoreless streak of 203 minutes, 5 seconds. He hasn't allowed a goal in 10 consecutive periods, breaking the record set by Roanoke's Paul Cohen in 1993-94. His play helped Hampton Roads in allowing the second-fewest goals in the league (223).
The Admirals are close to full-strength. Dominic Maltais, Victor Gervais, Randy Pearce and Rod Taylor combined to score 33 goals in nine games against the Express. Guys like Alain Savage and Andy Weidenbach will also be counted on for contributions.
``Gervais, Pearce and Taylor are going to get special attention,'' said Admirals coach John Brophy. ``Other guys have to play a lot better. ... Defense has to come first. We can't afford to give up a lot.''
LENGTH: Medium: 84 linesby CNB