THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512240185
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RALPH BERRIER JR., STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Just when it looked as if its offense had settled in for a long winter's nap, the Roanoke Express erupted for five goals in the first period en route to a 9-4 rout of the Hampton Roads Admirals on Saturday night.
The Express put an end to its franchise-record five-game losing streak by scoring more goals in one night than it had in its previous five games combined.
``Obviously, we had been questioning ourselves,'' Express coach Frank Anzalone said. ``This organization is not used to losing. Our fans aren't used to losing.''
Hampton Roads (15-6-10) usually isn't accustomed to defeats, either, but the Admirals have not won in four games. To add insult to injury, Hampton Roads coach John Brophy was doused by a cup of beer by a Roanoke fan as he left the ice after the game.
``Whole beer? It felt like a quart,'' said Brophy, who refused to press charges against the fan. ``It was a bad night.''
Express right wing Tim Christian scored his first professional hat trick, giving him five goals in two nights.
``I'm just trying to play my game,'' said Christian, who scored twice in a 4-2 loss at Richmond on Friday. ``Right now, the puck's just bouncing my way.''
Jeff Jablonski had two goals and three assists, matching his season assist total in just one game. Jason Clarke scored a pair of goals for Roanoke.
Goalie Daniel Berthiaume (8-4) ended a personal four-game losing streak by turning aside 40 shots in beating a team that had sent him to the bench early in an 8-1 rout at Scope on Dec. 15.
The first period alone was a virtual Express highlight film. Twenty minutes was all it took for Jablonski and Clarke to score twice and Dave Stewart once as Roanoke took a 5-0 lead.
The first period almost appeared tame compared to the flurry of scoring in the second period, when the two teams scored six goals - three each - in a span of 5:08. The Express answered each Hampton Roads score: Sean Selmser, Serge Aubin and Aaron Downey scored for the Admirals in a span of 3:34, but Christian scored his first two goals and Chris Potter bounced a shot off a Hampton Roads player in response.
Christian's third goal made it 9-3 at 7:47 of the third, as a few Roanoke fans tossed their hats onto the ice. Jeff Kostuch scored Hampton Roads' last goal with 4:49 to play.
``Things got bad for us the same way they did for them (the Express) at our place,'' Brophy said. ``Bad things went against us in that first period. They had tip-ins, everything. All the breaks.'' by CNB