Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511210039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Those were two precepts on which the Roanoke Express built its 5-3 East Coast Hockey League victory over the Birmingham Bulls on Saturday night.
Putting an end to a wild week that began with the re-signing of popular goalie Daniel Berthiaume, DelGuidice reminded the 6,719 spectators at the Roanoke Civic Center that the Express has two fine netminders. He notched his eighth victory, tied for the league lead.
Even if folks knew DelGuidice's credentials, Stacchi's play had to be a welcome surprise. The rookie out of Dartmouth - who has been waived twice by the Express and gone unclaimed both times - scored his first two goals as a professional, including the game-winner.
Factor in Ilya Dubkov's goal and two assists and a resurgence of Roanoke's penalty-killing, and it brought an end to a season-long two-game losing streak.
``We did the job,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``Hopefully, we can get on track and win a couple of games.''
The win didn't come easy for Roanoke (9-8), which had to stave off a Birmingham power play in the final minutes. The Express, last in the league in penalty-killing, stopped the Bulls on six of seven power plays.
The last came after defenseman Jon Larson was penalized at 17:29 of the third period for using a stick with an illegal blade curvature, Roanoke's fourth penalty of the period.
With the Express nursing a 4-3 lead, DelGuidice, who finished with 26 saves, made two clutch stops of point-blank stabs by Birmingham's Ian Hebert.
Then, with goalie Jeff Callinan pulled in favor of an extra skater that gave the Bulls a six-on-four advantage, Roanoke defenseman Dave Stewart recovered a loose puck in his own faceoff circle and sent it down the ice and into the goal for a short-handed empty-netter with 33 seconds to play.
``Matt made three very good saves at the end,'' said Anzalone.
It was feared that Berthiaume's signing could be a distraction for DelGuidice, but he showed no ill effects. Anzalone has indicated that he would like to rotate Berthiaume and DelGuidice on a fairly regular basis if both play well.
``They pay me to make saves,'' said DelGuidice. ``That's why I'm here. The defense did a great job of clearing the puck away, so it was a great team win. Whether I play the next game or not again for two games, all I care about is getting the win. That's all I'm worried about. When I start next is up to Frank, and that's fine.''
Stacchi, too, is just glad to be playing. Waived twice in order for the Express to stay under the salary cap, the 23-year-old left winger cleared waivers for a second time late this week and was re-signed just before Saturday's game.
``In August, [being waived] would have been my worst nightmare,'' said Stacchi, who missed much of training camp after getting hit with a puck and suffering a badly bruised ankle. ``Now, I just want to try to stay here.''
His goal while sprawling to the ice at 17:03 of the second period gave the Express a 4-2 lead. His first goal came just 16 seconds after Birmingham had taken a 1-0 lead on John Joyce's goal at 3:46 of the first.
Dubkov won a faceoff, Stacchi took the puck and beat Callinan through the pads. Dubkov made it 2-1 by tipping in Michael Smith's drive at 7:20.
Louis-Phillipe Charbonneau scored from the right circle to make it 3-1 at 14:17 of the second. Lance Brady scored for Birmingham (9-5-0) to make it 3-2, then following Stacchi's second goal, Craig Lutes chopped in a power-play goal at 15:06 of the third to make it 4-3.
``Overall, I'm pleased,'' said Anzalone. ``But you can't take four penalties in your own building when you're trying to nurse a lead.''
see microfilm for box score
by CNB