THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020618
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Whatever has been ailing the Hampton Roads Admirals didn't follow them to Dorton Arena on Tuesday.
A crisp-skating, hard-checking Hampton Roads team spoiled Raleigh's home opener by downing the IceCaps, 5-4, before a near-sellout crowd of 5,038.
The victory ended a two-game skid that included an overtime loss and a 5-2 shellacking, both at the hands of the Richmond Renegades.
Five players tallied goals for the Admirals (3-3-1), who took a 3-0 first-period lead, went ahead, 5-2, in the second, then held off the IceCaps in the final period to claim their first road victory of the season.
``That's the first one on the road. We're starting to learn to play the game,'' said Admirals coach John Brophy. ``We made a few mistakes, but we worked hard, very hard. The goaltender (Patrick LaLime) was great. We forechecked better.
``This one sets up the game with Johnstown.''
The Chiefs, who split a pair of exhibition games with the Admirals, come to Scope tonight at 7:30. It will be the second of five games in six days.
``Winning this one is a great way to start this stretch of games,'' Admirals forward Trevor Halverson said. ``In our last game we had a few bad breaks, but everyone came to the rink ready to play. That's the key. When the effort is there, sooner or later the puck starts going in the goal and you get on a winning streak.''
The pucks went in early and often for the Admirals.
Defenseman Chris Phelps, one of three Admirals to tally a goal for the first time, flipped in a short wrist shot at 7:16 to put Hampton Roads ahead, 1-0.
The Admirals went up, 2-0, at 9:49 when Jason MacIntyre slapped a long shot at goaltender Brad Mullahy, who blocked it in front of the net. John Porco then skipped the rebound in for the goal.
The third goal, by Jim Brown at 12:41, was set up by the skillful skating of Rod Taylor, who slipped around two defenders and backhanded a pass to an open Brown in front of the net.
The Admirals had fallen behind, 3-1, in their two games with Richmond, and were determined not to do the same against Raleigh.
``We've been coming out a little rusty in the first period and we've been playing catch-up hockey,'' forward Brendan Curley said. ``We wanted to come into the locker room with the lead this time.''
After Brown's goal, Raleigh called timeout, and it proved timely.
The Admirals were caught flat-footed on the ensuing faceoff, won by the IceCaps, and LaLime was faced with a 3-on-1 he could not stop. Lyle Wildgoose scored at 12:49 - his 100th career goal for the IceCaps - to narrow the margin to 3-1.
Two minutes later, Derek Linnell scored a power-play goal to cut the margin to 3-2.
MacIntyre and Sorensen both scored their first goals of the season in the second period to give the Admirals a commanding 5-2 lead.
But Raleigh came storming back in the third period on a pair of goals by Kevin Riehl. The Admirals endured three third-period Raleigh power plays and a volley of shots at LaLime, including one that hit the post and bounced in front of the goal for several seconds before LaLime stuffed it at 16:54.
Brophy singled out defenseman Brian Goudie, who was benched for much of the second loss to Richmond for disciplinary reasons.
``He played hard and he played great,'' said Brophy, who met with Goudie on Tuesday morning. ``He's a very good person, the kind of guy we need to win hockey games.
``This was an important victory. We're starting to come together.'' by CNB