
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995                   TAG: 9503070023
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: WHEELING, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Medium

EXPRESS TRIPS T-BIRDS 2-1

Dave Stewart scored on a slap shot from the right point with 6:32 remaining in the game as the Roanoke Express rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Wheeling Thunderbirds on Friday night in the East Coast Hockey League.

Stewart's goal came a few minutes after referee Mick Wicklum waved off an apparent go-ahead goal by the T-Birds. Wicklum ruled Wheeling forward Louie Dumont was in Express goaltender Daniel Berthiaume's crease when the puck went over the goal line.

The T-Birds argued Roanoke's goal should have been waved off because forward Darwin McClelland was in Wheeling netminder Mark Lamothe's crease, but Wicklum ruled McClelland was pushed into the crease.

Ilya Dubkov tied the score for the Express early in the third period. Dubkov one-timed a 35-foot slap shot over Lamothe's left shoulder after a tremendous forechecking effort by Tony Szabo dug the puck from behind Wheeling's net.

With the victory, Roanoke (33-16-9) is two points from clinching the home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Express already has clinched a playoff berth and trails first-place Richmond by two points in the East Division.

Wheeling (40-15-5), which this season established an ECHL record for consecutive home victories (17), lost its third straight at home.

The Express visits the Johnstown Chiefs at 7:30 p.m. today, before returning home to battle the Greensboro Monarchs at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

ICE CHIPS: Roanoke's Jeff Jestadt extended his points-scoring streak to 11 games with an assist on Dubkov's goal. ... Berthiaume gave up two or fewer goals for the ninth time in 11 Express appearances, and improved his record with Roanoke to 9-1-1 and 15-2-2 overall in beating his former team. ... Wheeling had been 20-0-0 at home with a lead after two periods. ...

by CNB