ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280086
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
For once, the Roanoke Express can say it really didn't want to go to an overtime shootout.
Sure, the Express won 7-6 over the Raleigh IceCaps and improved its shootout record to 6-0 this season as it remained the only team in the East Coast Hockey League without an overtime loss.
But it was the way the Express got to the shootout that rankled both coaches and players. The Express blew a 3-0 lead and lost a two-goal lead in the final 1:49 of regulation before pulling out the win on Tim Christian's goal in the fifth round of the shootout.
``We feel good about getting the two points [in the standings that come with a victory],'' said Roanoke left winger Jeff Jablonski, ``but the way we went about getting them was just brutal.''
It appeared that Jablonski had scored the game-winning goal with 11:26 left in regulation when he roofed an Ilya Dubkov centering pass to complete a smooth 2-on-1 rush to give the Express a 5-4 lead.
When Dave Holum beat Byron Penstock on a breakaway to make it 6-4 with 5:35 left, it appeared the stake had been planted in the IceCaps' heart.
But when Curt Regnier sent a slapshot past Roanoke goalie Daniel Berthiaume with 1:49 left, it looked like the IceCaps might do what they have done to the Express before - score a late sixth-attacker goal.
Raleigh coach Kurt Kleinendorst pulled Penstock with about a minute left in favor of an extra skater. When Jeff Gabriel sent the puck into the crease from behind the net, and when the puck squirted across the goal line after Berthiaume slapped his glove on it with 42 seconds left, the score was tied at 6.
It marked the fourth time in 11 games in the Roanoke Civic Center that the IceCaps had tied a game with a sixth-attacker goal in the final moments over the past three seasons.
``Raleigh's done that to us so many times to us in the final minutes,'' said Express coach Frank Anzalone. ``We had a chance to be a rock-solid team tonight, but we didn't do it.''
Dubkov and Christian scored in the shootout. Christian's goal came after Raleigh staved off the grim reaper again when Paul Vincent put a wrist shot over a sprawling Berthiaume, who surrendered six goals in 36 regulation shots.
``Really, I never felt we were in a position to win it,'' said Kleinendorst. ``Byron wasn't sharp. The only time I thought a guardian angel was looking over our shoulder was when Vincent scored [in the shootout].''
The Express had numerous chances to win. In fact, if bonuses went to players who scored game-winning goals, there were probably three or four Express players who already were thinking of ways to spend the money.
Dave Stewart scored on the game's second shift and Chris Potter made it 2-0 at 14:55 of the first. Tim Hanley ripped a shot from the right circle in the second that made it 3-0 but the IceCaps scored three straight goals from Rob Pattison, Gabriel and Dan Murphy, who has scored six of his 11 career goals against the Express.
Dubkov scored behind L.P. Charbonneau's screen at 2:32 of the third to make it 4-3, but Maco Balkovec tied it three minutes later.
``Raleigh didn't have anything to do with this comeback tonight,'' Anzalone said. ``Roanoke had everything to do with it. We were fortunate not to lose.''
ICE CHIPS: In a surprising move, Express goalie Matt DelGuidice was called up by the Albany RiverRats of the American Hockey League on Tuesday. DelGuidice's call-up had Express management steamed at none other than Kleinendorst, who had called DelGuidice to the attention of Albany and the New Jersey Devils, the parent club of the IceCaps and the RiverRats.
Kleinendorst, whose team lost two goalies to injury and couldn't help Albany, understood Express concerns, but said, ``It happens all the time. I get calls from people all the time asking for lists of the top players in the league. I don't think I did anything more or anything less than any other coach would do. Matty was on a list with a lot of other players. I think you've got to respect Frank for letting him go. He didn't have to, but he did.''
DelGuidice could be back this weekend when the Express plays Hampton Roads.
Rick Kelley, that stalwart of the Roanoke adult leagues, was the emergency backup for the Express on Wednesday.
``If we don't get Matt back, we could be in big trouble,'' said Anzalone.
The Express added winger Victor Filatov, a Russian player claimed off waivers from Jacksonville, on Tuesday.
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