THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 18, 1995 TAG: 9503180362
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
At game's end Friday the Hampton Roads Admirals mobbed goaltender Corwin Saurdiff, as is traditional after a hockey victory. But they lingered longer than usual, nearly knocking him to the ice with pats to the head.
And well they should have. Saurdiff turned away 35 Richmond shots, including six during a late power play, to lift the Admirals to a 2-1 victory over the Renegades before a Scope crowd of 8,501.
``It was my best game here,'' said Saurdiff, who is 3-1-1 since returning from Kansas of the IHL two weeks ago.
``And the defense was great tonight. It's the end of the year and they're getting worn down. But they didn't lose their cool tonight.''
Neither did Saurdiff, who slapped away a breakaway wrist shot at 12:00 of the third period from Richmond's Jan Benda, then knocked away three more shots in the next 40 seconds, all from Renegades within a few feet of the net.
Then came the power play, in which Richmond had six high-percentage shots, all handled with aplomb by Saurdiff. In the game's final 1:27, after Richmond pulled goaltender Dave Littman, he gathered in the puck twice more before Brian Goudie ended put the game out of reach by sending the puck down the ice with 19 seconds left.
Hampton Roads was without All-ECHL defenseman Ron Pascucci, on loan to Kansas City, yet continued a defensive hot streak. Hampton Roads has given up just 14 goals in its last eight games.
Defenseman Tony MacAulay played, with a mask, despite receiving 19 stitches from a high-stick from Roanoke's Jason Clark Wednesday. His mouth remains so swollen he can barely talk.
The victory kept the Admirals a point ahead of Tallahassee in the race for playoff home-ice advantage in the playoffs with two games to go for both teams. If the Admirals (79 points) maintain their lead, they'll host Tallahassee for the first two games of a five-game series beginning next Friday. If not, they'll to go Tallahassee on Thursday.
Hampton Roads (36-23-7) still has a chance to tie Charlotte for third. The Checkers, with 81 points, come to Scope tonight in the Admirals' regular-season finale.
The Admirals will have an extra hand tonight. Rick Kowaslky, up with Cornwall of the AHL for more than a month, returns today and will play tonight, Brophy said.
The loss Friday was costly for Richmond, chasing Roanoke for the East Division title. Roanoke is first with 88 points. Richmond must win its last three games, and Roanoke lose its remaining two, for the Renegades to catch the Express.
Meanwhile, the Admirals continue a hot streak - they're 6-1-1 in their last eight games.
``We're peaking at the right time, just before the playoffs,'' center Brendan Curley said.
About 700 seats for the Charlotte game were available late Friday. WTAR AM-790 pre-game show is at 7 p.m. Hampton Roads hasn't beaten Charlotte since Dec. 23, when they won 8-0, and have since lost three in a row to the Checkers. by CNB