THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503250491
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE MICHAUX, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Hampton Roads head coach John Brophy told Brian Goudie that he would paint his hair blue for the first game of the playoffs if the Admirals gained the home ice advantage.
The Admirals responded by winning seven of their last 10 games to do just that and, as promised, Brophy was sporting a blue 'do at Scope for Hampton Roads' playoff opener Friday night.
But once inside the familiar confines of Scope, the Admirals ran into a Tallahassee team which boasts the ECHL's best road record at 21-12-1 and lost 4-3, to wipe out what they had worked so hard for.
``We played 10 games to try to get here and then come out and play like that,'' Brophy said.
``It's definitely not a positive thing,'' John Porco said. ``The worst thing we can do is dwell on it.''
If a positive can be found, it is that the Admirals' response to the Tiger Sharks' leads in the game.
When the Tiger Sharks took a 2-1 lead just 33 seconds into the third period, Rod Taylor answered less than three minutes later.
When the Tiger Sharks made it 3-2 with more than six minutes to play in the game, Taylor answered again four minutes later to tie it up.
``We have to look at the way we came back,'' Porco said. ``That's one positive. We just didn't do the little things tonight. I don't think anybody underestimates anybody in the playoffs, but maybe because we hadn't seen this team before we were a little hesitant at the start of the game.''
These teams did not meet during the regular season. In the overall league standings the Tiger Sharks finished just one point behind the Admirals. But it was just a couple of months ago that Tallahassee was sitting at the bottom of the South Division.
``When you operate from that point, you learn to appreciate things,'' coach Terry Christensen said.
Certainly compiling the best road record in the league had much to do with the Tiger Sharks' confidence Friday.
``Having to come here didn't bother us,'' Christensen said. ``No matter who you are with that first game at home, the pressure is on the home team.
``Home ice can play an important role in the series, but the biggest thing here is that it is only one game.
``This was the first game, that's it. We still have to get up in the morning and go to work. In order to win the series, we have to win three games.''
The Admirals will be hard at work today searching for the fire they lacked Friday.
``We didn't come out with any fire tonight,'' Porco said. ``That's not playoff hockey. But it's not over yet.'' by CNB