Express Clinches Playoff Spot
Published on April 3, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release
ROANOKE, VA â The Roanoke Express officially clinched a spot in the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs with its 4-2 victory over the Greenville Grrrowl tonight. The win means the Express finish the season in second place in the Southern Division with a record of 38-26-8 for 84 points. Roanoke will play the Florida Everblades in the first round of the Southern Division playoffs, which begins on Tuesday, April 6.
The playoff berth caps a mad dash by the Express to the finish of the 2003-2004 ECHL season, a dash which saw the team go 12-0-2 over its final 14 games to get in. Entering the final weekend of the season, the Southern Division race was the tightest in the league with four teams fighting for three playoff spots, and those four teams separated by just two points. In the other first round Southern Division match up, the Columbia Inferno will take on the South Carolina Stingrays.
The post-season berth for the Express pushes its consecutive playoff appearance streak to 11 straight seasons. The Express has never missed the playoffs since joining the ECHL in 1993-94. The 11 straight appearances in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the Express matches the South Carolina Stingrays, who on Friday qualified for the post- season for the 11th consecutive year as well.
The upcoming first round playoff schedule for the Express is as follows. Games 1 & 2 will be played in Roanoke on April 6 & 8. Game 3 will take place in Florida on April 9, and if necessary, game 4 will also take place in Florida on April 12. If necessary, game 5 will be back in Roanoke on April 15. All Express home games will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets for Express home playoff games are available now, and may be reserved by calling the Roanoke Express office at (540) 343-4500.
ECHL Stories from April 3, 2004
- Division Champion IceGators Drop Final Game 4-3 - Louisiana IceGators
- Sea Wolves Slip Past IceGators 4-3 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Cyclones End Season With 4-2 Loss at Dayton - Cincinnati Cyclones
- 'Catters defeat Ice Dogs in final game of season, 4-2 - Texas Wildcatters
- Everblades clinch sixth straight playoff berth - Florida Everblades
- IceGators Win Division Crown - Louisiana IceGators
- Gwinnett Flies by Pride, 4-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Bullies Clinch Second Place - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Royals Clinch Kelly Cup Playoff Berth...Down Storm, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Chiefs Defeat Titans 4-2 - Trenton Devils
- Express Clinches Playoff Spot - Roanoke Express
- Everblades Playoff Bound After 4-2 Victory - Florida Everblades
- Pride's season ends with 4-1 loss in Gwinnett - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Bullies Get By Nailers 4-3 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Rivermen to Open First Round of the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs on the Road in Atlantic City - Peoria Rivermen
- Chiefs Wrap-up Regular Season with Win - Johnstown Chiefs
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Goaltender Valley Returns from Hartford - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Rennette, Hemingway Are C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performers for March - Peoria Rivermen
- Gulls - Aces Game Preview - San Diego Gulls
- Doell Named Rookie of the Year - Atlanta Gladiators
- Gwinnett's Doell Named CCM® ECHL Rookie of the Year - ECHL
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Format, Playing Dates Announced - ECHL
- Kelly Cup Playoff Rosters Due Monday - ECHL
- Peoria's Rennette, Hemingway Named C&T Hockey Products ECHL Plus Performers - ECHL
- Ice Pilots Announce Tentative Playoff Schedule - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Chiefs First Playoff Game Set; Winner of Monday's Game Faces Wheeling - Johnstown Chiefs
- Evangelista Comes Off Injured Reserve - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Checkers drop slugfest to Roanoke 4-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- San Diego Sinks Condors, 5-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Falcons Edged by Steelheads - Fresno Falcons
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