ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997 TAG: 9702030111
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
THE EXPRESS NETMINDER stops 35 shots as Roanoke posts its second straight shutout, 3-0 over Charlotte.
Dave Gagnon wasn't about to let Larry Moberg be the only goaltender to post a shutout for the Roanoke Express.
Gagnon made 35 saves, including 19 in the third period, to carry the Express to a 3-0 win over the Charlotte Checkers Friday night, Roanoke's second straight shutout.
The win came two days after Moberg blanked the Knoxville Cherokees 5-0.
The shutout was Roanoke's second against the Checkers this season, including a 3-0 win on Nov.1 when Paul Taylor combined with Moberg for the win. Charlotte has been shut out only four times in its four-year history, with three of those coming against the Express.
Wayne Strachan scored two goals for Roanoke (25-14-3), which secured its hold on fourth place in the East Coast Hockey League's East Division by moving five points ahead the fifth-place Checkers (22-16-4).
Strachan took a feed from Jeff Jablonski and scored on the power play at 12:59 of the first. In the second, Tim Christian made it 2-0 by one-timing a pass from Eric Landry at 13:27.
After Roanoke killed off a pair of power plays in the third, Strachan tallied again when Chris Lipsett got him the puck in the slot at 8:29.
The victory was the fourth straight for the Express, which plays at Charlotte again on Tuesday.
Roanoke has outscored its last four opponents 19-3.
It was Roanoke's first game since second-leading scorer Ilya Dubkov was promoted to the Hamilton (Ont.) Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB