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March 10, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express enjoyed their last long break of the season this past week, playing in just two games, and earning three out of four possible points. Entering this week, the Express now holds a record of 35-20-5 (75 pts., T3rd, NE Division). Roanoke begins the week two points behind second place Greensboro and nine points behind first place Atlantic City, with 12 games remaining in the regular season.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

FRIDAY, MARCH 7 vs. RICHMOND 7-3 Win

Roanoke hosted the Richmond Renegades for the fourth of five times on Friday night and rallied from a three-goal deficit to earn two points in the standings with a convincing 7-3 victory. The win raised Roanoke's record vs. Richmond to 5-3-0 on the season, with two games remaining between the teams.

The Renegades jumped on the Express early in the game scoring three times in the first period to open up a wide advantage. The Express began its' comeback however, on Rick Kowalsky's goal with just 53 seconds left in the first period to cut the lead to 3-1. The Express never looked back, scoring three times in the second and third periods to dominate the remainder of the game. Frank Novock, Joe Dusbabek and Cam Bristow, all stoked home the second period goals to open a 4-3 lead at the end of the second period. The scoring closed out in the third period on goals by Mike Peron, Bristow, and Dusbabek.

Sebastien Laplante got the start in goal for the Express and settled in nicely after allowing the three first period goals. In all, Laplante stopped 32 of 35 Richmond shots to earn the win and raise his record to 19-12-2. Marc Magliarditi got the start for the Renegades and allowed six of the seven goals on 43 shots faced. The last goal was an empty-net tally for the Express.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 at GREENVILLE 3-2 Overtime Loss

The Express made its only visit to Greenville, SC to take on the Grrrowl on Saturday afternoon, and left with a point in the standings after the Grrrowl picked up the win in overtime 3-2.

The low-scoring affair began with Greenville scoring the lone first period goal at 11:01 of the period. The Express battled back in the middle stanza to take a 2-1 lead on goals by Dan Carlson at 1:28 and Rick Kowalsky at 9:03. The lead was short lived however, when Greenville tied the game at two at the 14:30 mark of the second period, sending the teams into the locker rooms tied before the final period.

Neither team scored in the third period, and a controversial penalty against the Express in the final minute of regulation led to the winning goal. Just 25 seconds into the overtime session, the Grrrowl converted on the power play when a shot from the left circle bounced off two Express players and was swept into the net be Greenville for the game winner.

Evan Lindsay made the strong start in goal for the Express and got credit for the tie, stopping 37 of 40 Greenville shots. Lindsay, who is now unbeaten in regulation in his last five starts, saw his record go to 16-8-3.

UPCOMING GAMES

TUESDAY, MARCH 11 vs. CHARLOTTE 7:05 p.m.

The Express begins a four-game home stand on Tuesday when the Charlotte Checkers make another visit to the Roundhouse. The game will be the seventh of eight meetings on the season between the teams and the fourth and final meeting at the Roanoke Civic Center. On the season, the Express is 3-2-1 vs. the Checkers and is 2-1-0 at the Roundhouse vs. Charlotte. The most recent match-up between the Northeast Division rivals resulted in a 4-3 shootout win for the Checkers. Charlotte begins the week with a record of 33-25-2 (68 pts., 5th NE Div.). Roanoke is 38-18-12 all-time vs. the Checkers.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14 vs. WHEELING 7:35 p.m.

The Express meet the Wheeling Nailers for the second and final time this season on Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The only other meeting between the teams resulted in a 3-2 shootout win for Wheeling on November 9 at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Nailers begin the week with a record of

24-34-3 (51 pts., 6th NW Div.). The Express is 22-8-3 all-time vs. Wheeling. Friday night's contest is Guaranteed Win Night at the Roanoke Civic Center. If the Express do not win, fans may redeem Friday's ticket stub for a free ticket to Saturday night's game!

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 vs. READING 7:35 p.m.

The Express hosts the Reading Royals on Saturday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The match-up will be the seventh of eight games between the two Northeast Division rivals. The game is the third of four to be played at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Express has compiled a record of 5-1-0 vs. Reading this season, and is 1-1-0 at the Roundhouse vs. the Royals. The last time the two teams met, the Express earned a hard fought 7-4 victory on February 28 at Reading. The Royals begin the week with a record of 31-27-5 (67 pts., 6th NE Div.). Roanoke holds an all-time record of 13-6-1 vs. Reading.

NEWS & NOTES

LEAGUE LEADERS

The Express have two players in the top ten of league scorers at this point of the season. Jason Jaffray is tied for fifth in the league with 79 points (31 goals, 48 assists). Jaffray's goal, assist and point totals also lead all ECHL rookies. Rick Kowalsky is seventh in the league with 78 points, having picked up 27 goals and 51 assists this season.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

The Express continue to have player movement at this point in the season. Since last week, defenseman Doug Schueller was called up to Manchester of the American Hockey League. Schueller was returned to the Express on Sunday, March 9. In addition, Tim O'Connell remains up with the Rochester Americans of the AHL and Dylan Gyori remains up with the Utah Grizzlies of the AHL. O'Connell has played in 12 games with the Americans and has one assist, and Gyori has seen action in six games with the Grizzlies and has picked up two goals.

HOT STREAK'S

Several players currently have point-scoring streaks for the Express. Cam Bristow has picked up points in four of the last six games (2 G, 5 A)...Jason Jaffray has points in six of the last seven games (2 G, 11 A)... Dan Carlson has scored a point in five of the last six games (6 G, 4 A)...Rick Kowalsky has nine points in the last five games (4 G, 5 A)...Joe Dusbabek has earned points in four of the last six games he has played in (4 G, 6 A)...Goaltender Evan Lindsay is 4-0-1 in his last five starts.

COACH'S SHOW: The next edition of "Coach's Corner LIVE!" will be held on Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. from Cornerstone Bar & Grill. Fans are encouraged to attend to show which features Express broadcaster Kevin Reiter and Head Coach Tony MacAulay. This week's special guests will be Express forward Cam Bristow and defenseman Cole Fischer.

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