THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 7, 1994 TAG: 9412070580
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
For Corwin Saurdiff, who hadn't won in goal since February, victory never tasted as sweet as it did Tuesday.
Saurdiff withstood a late Raleigh onslaught, knocking away six shots in the final 30 seconds, to help the Hampton Roads Admirals preserve a 4-3 victory over the IceCaps at Dorton Arena.
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Admirals (9-10-2), who host South Carolina tonight at 7:30 at Scope.
Saurdiff, signed by the San Jose Sharks out of Northern Michigan in the spring of 1992, came to Hampton Roads last month from Kansas City of the IHL.
An injury kept him out most of last season, in which he lost his last eight games in a row. He lost two more in Kansas City this season before coming to Norfolk and losing his only two decisions at Scope.
In one of those losses, he was pulled midway through the second period after surrendering four goals, and many Scope fans booed as he left the ice. But Tuesday he had 28 saves to end his losing streak at 12 games.
``He had a great game in goal,'' Admirals coach John Brophy said. ``You need good goaltending to break out of a slump, and we got it.''
Saurdiff said he has been feeling pressure to produce since his first day with the Admirals.
``My first week here, the pucks weren't hitting me, not in practice or in games,'' he said. ``I was terrible.''
``But this week, with a little work and a lot of encouragement from my teammates, the pucks started to hit me again.
``The boys hung in there with me. They stuck by me.''
Brophy shook up his lineup in an effort to break the slump, placing Rod Taylor, John Porco and Rick Kowalsky on the first line. It worked as Taylor had a goal and an assist, Kowalsky scored his eighth goal of the season and Porco had three assists.
Trevor Halverson, on the second line with Brendan Curley and Kelly Sorensen, scored two goals. Curley added two assists.
Halverson scored the game-winner at 10:54 of the third period when he slapped a shot under goaltender Brad Mullahy's stick from just inside the left circle.
Halverson has scored three goals in the last two games, in large part because a nagging hand injury has healed. Late last week, he finally was able to play without taping his hand.
``With the tape off, I'm getting more on the shot,'' he said. ``My shot's getting stronger every day.''
Brophy said the Admirals continue to make mistakes, including some poor passes that led to Raleigh shots and some ill-timed penalties.
``But we won, so nobody cares about that stuff tomorrow,'' he said.
``This was a big win for us. We forechecked better than we've done this year. Everyone played hard. Curley played a hell of a game. All of our guys did.''
Including an oft-maligned goaltender. by CNB