ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995 TAG: 9512150066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: EXPRESS NOTES
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
On the calender, it looks like three games in three days.
In real time, however, it's three games in less than two days.
Tonight in Norfolk, the Roanoke Express begins a rugged weekend schedule that has it playing on three successive days - against Hampton Roads tonight, then at home against Richmond and Tallahassee on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, respectively.
When Sunday's game ends at approximately 6 p.m., the Express will have played three games in less than 48 hours.
``This will be a real challenge,'' Express coach Frank Anzalone said. ``Three games in three nights is one thing. Three games in two, two and a half days is another.''
The games will be against some of the toughest competition in the East Coast Hockey League. Hampton Roads and Richmond are the two teams ahead of the Express in the East Division. With a 16-10 record and 32 points, Roanoke trails the front-running Renegades by eight points, the Admirals by three.
Tallahassee, which was expected to be one of the ECHL's stronger teams, has been beset with injuries, has lost four in a row heading into Thursday night's game against Birmingham and has sunk to last place in the South Division. After playing back-to-back games against Hampton Roads and Richmond, the Express could be running on fumes by Sunday.
There may not be enough players left standing to take part in a special skate with fans following Sunday's game.
``We've tried to prepare for this,'' said Anzalone, whose team hasn't played since a 4-1 loss at Charlotte last Saturday. ``We had a hard practice Tuesday, an optional practice [Wednesday] and a solid hour and 15 minutes [Thursday]. Hopefully, we haven't exhausted the fuel tanks.''
EXPRESSIONS: Jeff Jablonski broke out of a long slump in a big way by scoring eight goals in his past five games, and Anzalone would like to see some other players do the same. Jeff Jestadt, the all-time leading goals scorer for the Express, has one goal in his past six games, and Ilya Dubkov, the franchise leader in points, has seven goals in 26 games. ``We need some production out of some guys,'' Anzalone said. ``We've got some guys who have cooled off.'' ...
Jestadt has reached a statistical equilibrium. Heading into tonight's game, he has 79 goals and 79 assists in his three-year professional career. ... Tim Christian's shooting percentage of 28.1 (nine goals on 32 shots) is fourth-best in the ECHL. ... Jason Clarke is third in the ECHL with 14 major penalties and 172 penalty minutes. ...
Goalie Daniel Berthiaume rides a seven-game win streak into Norfolk, six wins short of the record he set last year. His .918 save percentage and 2.54 goals against average are second-best in the league. ... Anzalone said Matt DelGuidice probably will start at least one game in goal this weekend.
MOOSE HUNTING: Express general manager Pierre Paiement was in St.Paul, Minn., this week to meet with officials of the Minnesota Moose, Roanoke's International Hockey League affiliate. Even though the purpose of the meeting was to discuss merchandising and marketing options, Paiement said he met with coach Frank Serratore to talk about the Moose's possible move to Winnipeg, Manitoba, next season.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 linesby CNB