THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 1996 TAG: 9611060634
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEVIN CLARK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: 35 lines
Alan Savage's wrist shot between the pads of Raleigh goaltender Patrick Charbonneau with 38 seconds left in the game ruined a three goal third period comeback by the Ice Caps and sealed a 5-4 win for the Hampton Roads Admirals at Thorton Area Tuesday.
The Ice Caps were playing their home opener after a nine game road trip to open the season, during which they won six games.
Darren Colbourne brought Raleigh back from a 4-1 deficit with three straight goals in the thrid period. Colbourne scored the tying goal on a power play created when the Admirals' Andy Weidenbach was sent to the penalty box for using an illegal stick.
``I think it's the cheapest penalty in hockey, ten guys on ice had an illegal stick at any time,'' Admiral coach John Brophy. ``I'd never call it.''
The Admirals had taken control of the game from the start, outshooting the Cats 17-7 in the first period and 37-27 overall.
Rod Taylor got the Admirals on the board first at 17:28 of the first period when he outworked Brad Dextor for the puck in the corner to the right of Charbonneau, skated out in front of the net and put a backhand through.
Spenser Menay tied the game for the Ice Caps with a wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle past Darryl Paquette.
The Admirals retook control 39 seconds later when Savage picked up his own rebound and centered to a wide open Dennis Lamoreux in the slot. Lamoreux wristed the puck into the open net for his third goal of the year. Goals by Weidenbach and Randy Pearce stretched the lead to 4-1 by the end of the second period.
``We almost let it get away,'' Brophy said. ``Nothing is coming easy. We thought we played the whole game. It sets us up well for tonight's game.'' by CNB