THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 20, 1997 TAG: 9701200130
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NICK GATES, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: KNOXVILLE, TENN. LENGTH: 43 lines
You've got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em.
Hampton Roads coach John Brophy took the poker-playing theme and applied it to an East Coast Hockey League game Sunday afternoon as the Admirals rallied for a 7-5 victory over the Knoxville Cherokees.
Brophy, who watched a 3-1 first-period lead evaporate, pulled starting goalie Darryl Paquette with 10:17 left in the second and the Admirals trailing 4-3. Replacement Marc Seliger allowed only a power-play goal by Vaclav Nedomansky the rest the way to improve his record to 7-3-1.
``We don't mind changing because both of them can play,'' said Brophy, who doesn't have a Captain Hook reputation.
Paquette was seeking his 20th win.
``I didn't think he was sharp today,'' Brophy said. ``Also, we were getting down. There's no use changing when you're down four goals.''
The strategy sparked the Admirals (27-11-3), who moved into first place, two points ahead of South Carolina.
Alain Savage tied the game 5-5 25 seconds into the third period with the first of his two goals.
Victor Gervais, who also scored twice, tallied on a power play 1:29 later for the game-winner.
The Cherokees (14-24-2) got the jump on the Admirals when Jim Brown scored his 27th goal early in the first period.
Hampton Roads, which outshot Knoxville 49-29, led 3-1 after the first period on goals by Dominic Maltais, Gervais and Chad Ackerman.
Maltais stripped Knoxville defenseman Greg Bailey at the blue line and finished the breakaway by beating Brad Guzda. Gervais' 13th goal came shorthanded, the third allowed by Knoxville in two games.
But the Cherokees clawed back in the second period on goals by Matt Turek and Nedomansky 44 seconds apart.
The Admirals got antsy. Hampton Roads scored into its own net - Chris Fess was credited with his 15th goal - to put the Cherokees in front 4-3.
But Hampton Roads regrouped. Randy Pearce, charging hard to the net, got his stick on a rebound in the crease and put the puck behind Guzda to make it 4-4. The Admirals kept up the pressure the final minutes. They stayed with their checks, outshot the Cherokees 20-8 and Seliger took care of the rest.