THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 24, 1995 TAG: 9511240191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RALPH BERRIER, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
At least coach John Brophy and his Hampton Roads Admirals can be thankful that they accrue a point in the ECHL standings for each of their seven shootout losses so far this season.
The Admirals (8-2-7) lost their 13th overtime game in a row dating back to last season 6-5 in a shootout to the Roanoke Express before a Thanksgiving Day crowd of 5,828 at the Roanoke Civic Center.
It was their second shootout loss in 24 hours to Roanoke, which defeated the Admirals 4-3 Wednesday at Scope.
``We're not playing for ties, but I guess that's what it's like,'' said Brophy, whose Admirals host Raleigh tonight at Scope.
``Don't ask me what happens in the shootout. It's become a burden. If we win one, maybe we won't lose another.''
Roanoke's Jason Clarke had a pair of goals in regulation, including one that knotted the game at 5-5 with 2:42 left in regulation. Craig Herr then beat Admirals goalie Mark Bernard for the only goal in the shootout.
That was all Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume needed. Berthiaume stopped all five Admirals shootout attempts after stopping the Admirals on their last six shootout tries on Wednesday.
Berthiaume acknowledged luck was on his side Thursday, as both Bob Woods and Rick Kowalsky hit posts during the shootout.
``I loved that,'' said Berthiaume, who replaced starter Matt DelGuidice in the second. ``You always love it when the other guys hit the post and it doesn't go in. They sent three or four of the same guys (whom he had seen in Wednesday's shootout) at me. They all didn't do the same things, but neither did I.''
Admirals forward Trevor Halverson scored his 14th and 15th goals of the season and added two assists. David St. Pierre added three assists and Ron Pascucci, Dominic Maltais and Jeff Kostuch a goal apiece.
Herr won it for the Express in the fourth round with a forehand over Bernard's right shoulder.
``I went backhand (in Wednesday's shootout) and didn't score,'' said Herr, who scored despite suffering a nasty bruise after taking a slapshot to his right leg. ``I rarely shoot high. Bernard was probably just as surprised as I was.''
The Admirals erased a two-goal lead, then saw the Express tie the score 4-4 when Michael Smith scored a power-play goal by taking a back pass from Herr, wound up once and buried a shot from the point that glanced the left post at 15:40 of the second.
Maltais gave the Admirals a 5-4 lead with a power-play goal late in the second, then the next time Smith fired on goal, Clarke was there to deflect it in and it tied the score with only 2:42 left.
``I've got to bump and grind for those goals,'' said Clarke. ``They may be garbage goals, but I'll take 20 of 'em.''
The Admirals put themselves into a deep hole with 11 first-period penalties that allowed the Express to take a 3-1 lead on three power-play goals. Brophy then pulled Darryl Paquette from goal in favor of Bernard.
The Admirals climbed off the deck with three goals in the first 8:37 of the second to take a 4-3 lead. But as usual, when it came to the shootout, they fired only blanks. MEMO: Boxes, ECHL standings/C6
by CNB