THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 20, 1995 TAG: 9503200137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
On his last visit to Norfolk, the Hampton Roads Admirals put a hurting on Richmond's Kurt Mallett. He took an errant stick to the mouth Friday night that left two gaping gashes and required 27 stitches to close.
But Sunday at the Richmond Coliseum, Mallett got his revenge. The Renegades center took a pass from Andrew Shier on the right wing, skated to the right circle and lofted a shot that lifted Richmond to a 5-4 victory at 2:29 of overtime.
The loss came in the final regular-season game for Hampton Roads, which pulled into third place, a point ahead of Charlotte. The Admirals would fall to fourth if Charlotte defeats Raleigh on Tuesday in Charlotte.
The Admirals open the playoffs Friday and Saturday at Scope against Tallahassee, Nashville or Greensboro, and won't know until Tuesday night whom they face. Here are the possibilities:
If Charlotte defeats Raleigh, the Admirals would face Tallahassee.
If Charlotte loses to Raleigh, the Admirals would face either Greensboro or Nashville, depending on the outcome of the Richmond-Greensboro game Tuesday. A Greensboro victory or overtime loss would send the Monarchs to Norfolk on Friday. If Greensboro loses, Nashville would come to Scope on Friday.
Richmond will have plenty to play for at Greensboro - a victory or an overtime loss would give the Renegades the East Division title.
That rankles Admirals coach John Brophy, whose team won the East title last season.
``We don't want to give first place to any team, and tonight we gave them first place,'' Brophy said. ``We didn't play, we didn't do anything right . .
``We should have won tonight. If we'd come to play, if we hadn't had so many stupid penalties, we'd have won. Instead, we gift-wrapped three goals to them.''
Indeed they did. The Admirals bolted to a 4-1 lead early in the second period on goals by Rob MacInnis, Rick Kowalsky, Ron Majic and Brian Goudie. But it was clear the Admirals were in trouble. They were outshot, 15-4, in the first period.
Richmond dominated most of the rest of the game, thanks in part to the Admirals, who gave up one goal on an errant pass in front of their own net, a goal on a missed check and another when the puck bounced over a defenseman's stick.
The game-winner was intended to be a pass. Mallett's angle to the goal was poor, and he was trying to send the puck to teammate Cooper Nayler. But the puck bounced off the skate of an Admirals defenseman, then hit the skate of Hampton Roads goaltender Shamus Gregga before plopping into the net.
The 4-1 lead was the biggest blown by the Admirals, who were 3-8 in overtime and shootouts.
``That's not the way this team plays hockey, or should play hockey,'' MacInnis said. ``We gave up 15 shots in the first period. We gave up (a franchise low of) 19 against Charlotte.
``We didn't play our game tonight.''
Defenseman Chris Phelps said that will change by Friday.
``We'll be ready,'' he said. ``Losing this one hurts, but the playoffs are a new season. We'll be sharp.
``We've shown we've got the potential to win a championship. Now it's time to go out and do it.'' by CNB