THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503160561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The Slump, as it has become known to Hampton Roads fans, is officially over.
The Admirals put the exclamation point on the end of a two-month-long slide by pounding the Roanoke Express, 4-1, Wednesday at Scope.
The victory came over the ECHL's hottest team and the league's best goaltender - NHL veteran Daniel Berthiaume, who had won a league-record 13 consecutive games.
Roanoke, which would have all but clinched the East Division title with a victory, had won a franchise-record eight in a row, including a pair of 3-2 victories over the Admirals.
But on this night, Hampton Roads clearly was the better team. The Admirals outhustled and outhit Roanoke from the opening faceoff, outshot the Express, 30-22, and survived 10 Roanoke power plays.
Roanoke coach Frank Anzalone was impressed.
``They were committed to winning. They were not to be denied,'' he said of the Admirals. ``No matter what we did and no matter how well we played, they outplayed us.''
Hampton Roads was first in the East Division and had won a franchise-record eight in a row just before the All-Star break in early January. But then came a series of injuries and call-ups. Two weeks ago, the Admirals had won just six of their previous 18 games.
In recent weeks players have begun returning from injuries and call-ups, and the Admirals are winning again - they are 5-1-1 in their last seven games.
John Porco, playing for the first time since returning from Saint John of the AHL, had a pair of assists. Rob MacInnis and Tom Menicci continued hot streaks - MacInnis had the game-winning goal and an assist, and Menicci scored his eighth goal in his last nine outings.
Shamus Gregga played well in goal, picking up his third victory in his last three starts.
``But it wasn't me - the defense won this game,'' Gregga said. ``They made it easy for me. The few shots they got weren't good shots. We're playing great defense.''
And at just the right time, according to coach John Brophy. The playoffs start next week, following the final three regular-season games this weekend.
``That's the kind of hockey we should be playing going into the playoffs,'' he said. ``We played great.''
The victory put the Admirals two points closer to wrapping up home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The ECHL's top eight teams host first-round games, and the Admirals are eighth with 77 points, four ahead of No. 9 Tallahassee.
NOTES: Brophy said forward Rick Kowalsky is scheduled to return from Cornwall of the AHL on Sunday or Monday. . . . The Admirals conclude their home schedule against Richmond on Friday and Charlotte on Saturday, then travel to Richmond for their regular-season finale Sunday. . . . If the Admirals finish eighth or higher, they will host first-round playoff games Friday and Saturday of next week. Admirals president Blake Cullen has discussed first-round pairings with officials from Tallahassee, the likely first-round opponent. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/Staff
The Admirals' Rod Taylor maneuvers between Ilya Dubkov, left, and
Jon Larson. Hampton Roads is 5-1-1 in its last seven games.
by CNB