Roanoke Express Weekly

Published on December 8, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA - The Roanoke Express slumped to a 0-2-1 record this past weekend. Roanoke lost back-to-back games this past weekend for the first time the opening three games of the season. The Express enters this week with a record of 12-9-1, (25 pts., 4th place in Southern Division).

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2003 at READING 3-1 Loss

The Express took on the Reading Royals for the first of three times this season on Friday night, and fell 3-1 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. The game saw a physical first period with neither team scoring. In the second period Shawn Limpright got the Express on the board with his 12th goal of the season at 7:17. The Royals answered back quickly after at 8:59 of the middle period to tie the game, then added a power play goal at 15:02 of the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the locker room.

The third period saw the Express scramble to try to get the tying goal, but Reading opened a two-goal advantage five minutes into the period on their second power play goal of the night.

David Belitski got the start in goal for the Express and suffered the loss despite stopping 32 of 35 Reading shots. Belitski's record fell to 7-5-0.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2003 at READING 4-2 Loss

The Express and Royals battled it out for a second consecutive night, and Reading collected a 4-2 victory at the Sovereign Center, sending the Express to its second consecutive loss for only the second time this season.

The game began quickly for the Royals scoring 1:33 into the start of the contest, but the Express settled in and was able to score the next two goals. Dan Carney notched his third goal of the season at 7:39 of the first period to tie the game, and Blair Stayzer gave Roanoke the lead three minutes into the second period. Reading rebounded with a power play goal at 8:13 of the second period to send the teams to the locker rooms tied after two periods.

The game began to take on a playoff type feel to it, with the physical play picking up. The game saw a total of six 10-minute misconducts, including three in the third period. With the game seemingly headed to overtime late in the third period, the Royals broke through, scoring with just 1:30 remaining in the game to take a 3-2 lead. Reading sealed the win with their fourth goal of the night at 19:09. The two teams combined for 138 penalty minutes.

Jason Wolfe suffered the loss in goal for Roanoke, allowing the four goals on 37 shots to fall to 5-4-0.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2003 vs. FLORENCE 5-4 Shootout Loss

The Express skated against the Florence Pride for the second time this season, and suffered a 5-4 loss in a shootout. It was the second time the teams had to go to a shootout to decide a winner this season, with Roanoke winning in a shootout in Florence on Nov. 13.

The Express saw a quality opportunity to pick up two points slip away, as they held a one goal lead four times, only to see the Pride battle back each time.

Joe Dusbabek opened the scoring just 14 seconds into the game for the Express, but Florence tied the game at one a little over four minutes later. Andrew McPherson then put Roanoke back on top at 15:24 of the first period only to see Florence tie the game with less than two minutes remaining in the opening period of play.

In the second period the Express got a goal from Rob Snowball, the first of his professional career, at 6:08 of the second period to take a 3-2 lead. Once again however, the Pride evened the game, this time at 11:24. Shawn Limpright notched his team-leading 13th goal of the season with 29 seconds left in the middle period to give Roanoke a 4-3 lead after two periods. A tight checking third period saw the Express hold the lead until the 13:13 mark when Florence for the fourth time tied the game, sending the game to overtime.

Neither team scored in the five minute overtime period, sending the game to a shootout session. In the first round of five shooters, neither team was able to dent the twine. It wasn't until the sixth round, the first of the sudden death rounds, that someone scored. Shaun Sutter beat David Belitski between the legs to give Florence the advantage, and when Matt Underhill stopped Dan Carney's attempt for Roanoke in the sixth round, it sealed the win, and an extra point in the standings for the Pride.

Belitski faced 47 shots, including five in overtime, and finished the night with a shootout loss, (credited as a tie) to fall to 7-5-1 on the season.

UPCOMING GAMES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2003 vs. FLORENCE 7:30 p.m.

The Express and Pride play their second of three consecutive games on Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The game is the third of five between the teams. So far on the season each team has won a game in a shootout, with the Express winning 4-3 on Nov. 13 at Florence and the Pride winning 5-4 on Dec. 7 in Roanoke. The Pride begin this week with a record of 8-10-3 record (19 pts., T-5th, Southern Division). The game is the last in the season series at the Roundhouse. The Express is 19-8-1 all-time vs. the Pride.

Friday night is "Scout Night" at the Roanoke Civic Center. Boy & Girl Scout Troops can purchase discounted tickets though the Express office, and all scout troops in attendance will participate in a parade on the ice during the first intermission. Prizes will be awarded to the largest scout group in attendance.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2003 at FLORENCE 7:30 p.m.

Roanoke and Florence meet for the second of three times at the Florence Civic Center on Saturday night. The game is the third consecutive on the schedule between the teams. Roanoke and Florence don't play against each other again until the Express travels to Florence on Feb. 13.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2003 at GREENVILLE 3:05 p.m.

The Express takes on the Greenville Grrrowl for the third of six times on Sunday afternoon at the BI-LO Center in Greenville, SC. Roanoke picked up a 4-1 win on Halloween night at the BI-LO Center, and the Grrrowl collected a 6-3 win over the Express at the Roanoke Civic Center on Nov. 27. This is the second of three games between the teams in Greenville. The Grrrowl enter this week's action with the lowest point total in the ECHL, posting a record of 4-13-2 (10 pts. 8th Southern Division). Roanoke is 4-1-1 all-time vs. Greenville.

NEWS & NOTES

SPECIAL TEAMS: Entering this week, the Express is 5th on the power play (21.4%) and is 16th on the penalty kill (83.4%).

HOME SWEET HOME: After beginning the season losing its first two home games, the Express has won seven of the last nine at the Roanoke Civic Center. The streak began on Nov. 1 with a win against Greensboro. Since then, the Express has added wins against Charlotte, Augusta, Columbia, South Carolina, Las Vegas, and Florida. Only Greenville and Florence have tripped up the Express of late at the Roundhouse.

FAST START: The Express has scored the first goal of the game in 13 of its last 17 games. In those 17 games, the Express is 11-6-1. Oddly enough, the Express began the season allowing the first goal of the game in its first four contests. Overall this year when the Express scores first in a game they are 8-4-1.

THE SIN BIN: Entering this week's action, the Express leads the league in average penalty minutes per game. Roanoke is averaging 34.3 minutes a game. Roanoke also leads the league in minor penalties against with 222, and total penalty minutes with 754.

SHOOTING GALLERY: Express goaltender Jason Wolfe has faced an incredible 296 shots in his last seven starts. That's an average of 42.3 shots per start for Wolfe in that span, and overall this season, he has seen an average of 42 shots per game played in.

MILESTONES: Some milestones are within grasp by Express players; F Joe Dusbabek is one game shy of his 200th pro game played in...F Dan Carlson needs 40 games to reach 200.

WHO'S HOT: LW Shawn Limpright has scored a point in nine straight games (7 G, 9 A)...C Jeremy Kyte has a point in five of six games (1 G, 4 A)...C Dan Carlson has a point in four straight and 11 of the last 12 games (8 G, 12 A), and has scored a goal in four straight games...RW Rick Kowalsky has seven points in the last five games (3 G, 4 A)...LW Joe Dusbabek has scored a point in seven of the last eight games (2 G, 11 A)...G David Belitski has won seven of his last 11 starts.

TEAM & LEAGUE LEADERS: After 22 games, Dan Carlson and Shawn Limpright are tied for the team lead with 29 points. The two are also tied for sixth overall in the ECHL scoring race. Limpright is also leading the league with eight power play goals, and is seond in the league with 16 power play points. Rick Kowalsky is third on the team in scoring with 27 points. Duncan Dalmao is second in the league with 12 power play assists. Defenseman Tim O'Connell leads the entire league with 111 shots on goal.

UPCOMING PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

Monday, December 8 OFF

Tuesday, December 9 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Wednesday, December 10 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Thursday, December 11 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Friday, December 12 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center

7:30 p.m. GAME vs. Florence @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Saturday, December 13 7:30 p.m. GAME vs. Florence @ The Florence Civic Center

Sunday, December 14 3:05 p.m. GAME vs. Greenville @ The BI-LO Center

(All practice times and locations are subject to change)

ALL EXPRESS GAMES ARE BROADCAST LIVE ON THE 3WR RADIO NETWORK, 910 AM IN ROANOKE AND 990 AM IN BLACKSBURG. ALL GAMES ARE LIVE ON THE INTERNET AT www.wcqv.com

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