Sports stats



Roanoke Express Weekly

February 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express finished this past week's action with a 2-2-0 record. The Express enters this week with a record of 25-25-6, (56 pts., 6th place in Southern Division).

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2004 vs. GREENSBORO 4-1 Win

The Express and Generals wrapped up their season series against each other on Tuesday at the Roanoke Civic Center. Roanoke used a solid effort for 60 minutes to collect an important 4-1 victory over their Southern Division rival.

The Express made its statement early in the game scoring twice in the first 5:23 of the game. Andrew McPherson started the scoring off at the 4:50 of the opening period, notching an even strength goal. Just 33 seconds later Carl Mallette collected his second goal in a Roanoke uniform to give the Express a 2-0 lead. The Generals cut into the Roanoke's advantage with a goal at 11:02 of the first period, but the Express regained its two-goal advantage just minutes later, when Rick Kowalsky deflected home a shot at 14:21.

The game remained a 3-1 lead for the Express for most of the remaining time. Neither team scored in the second period, and in the third, Bryan Perez added the finishing touches to the win, with his fifth goal of the season at 7:45 of the third period. The lead was more than enough for the Express who successfully kept Greensboro's high powered offense at bay.

Jason Wolfe earned his second straight win in net for Roanoke, allowing just one goal on 35 shots. It was also the second straight game which Wolfe surrendered just one goal. The win raised his record to 12-14-2. The season series finished with Greensboro winning four of the seven games. The Express closed out the series with a 3-2-2 record, while the Generals finished 4-3-0.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2004 vs. Gwinnett 7-3 Loss

Roanoke and Gwinnett met in the first of back-to-back games against each other at the Roanoke Civic Center on Friday night. The Gladiators out-battled the Express to a 7-3 decision, which was helped by four goals in the first period.

Kevin Doell opened the scoring with the first of his four goals at the seven minute mark of the first period. After Anthony Aquino made it a 2-0 game, the Gladiators took advantage of a five-minute charging penalty by Neil Posillico to score twice more before the end of the first period. Doell scored both goals on the five-minute man advantage to give Gwinnett a 4-0 lead after one period. The Express was able to kill off the remaining time on the power play into the second period, and then got on the scoreboard at 9:34 of the middle period on a power play goal by Rick Kowalsky. However, Gwinnett scored twice more following that goal to open a 6-1 lead by the 1:41 mark of the third period.

The Express mounted a slight comeback midway through the third period when Dan Carlson and Andrew Oke scored just 1:27 apart to cut the lead in half, but the lead proved to be too much, and Doell added his fourth goal of the night at 13:16 of the third period to put the finishing touches on the win.

David Belitski made his first start in goal for the Express since returning from the AHL's Toronto Roadrunners, and suffered the loss, allowing the seven goals on 47 shots, to fall to 12-10-4.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2004 vs. GWINNETT 3-2 Shootout Win

In front of its largest crowd in over four years, the Express battled to a 3-2 shootout win over the Gwinnett Gladiators in the second of back-to-back games between the two teams. Nearly 6,000 fans watched the Express come from behind to pick up two important points in the standings.

The Gladiators opened the scoring 13 minutes into the game, but the Express answered back nearly three minutes later on an even strength goal by Carl Mallette. With the teams tied at one, the game began to take on a defensive style, with both goaltenders making their presence felt as well. It wasn't until there was only 37 seconds remaining in the second period before the dead lock was broken. Dan Carlson notched his 15th goal of the season to put Roanoke on top just before the second intermission. The momentum of the Express was slowed when Gwinnett scored four minutes into the third period to tie the game back up.

Despite some good chances on both sides, the goaltenders and defenses both kept each other at bay over the remaining time in regulation. In overtime, neither team was able to find the game-winner despite some wild four-on-four action, sending the game into a shootout. In the shootout, the Express saw Carlson score on its second attempt, and with Jason Wolfe turning away the first four shooters for Gwinnett, Kevin Bergin slipped home Roanoke's fourth attempt to give the Express the win.

Wolfe turned away 43 of 45 Gwinnett shots in regulation and overtime to pick up his third straight win and bring his record to 13-14-2. The game was also the last in the season series, which saw the Express go 2-3-0 vs. the Gladiators this season.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2004 at SOUTH CAROLINA 4-2 Loss

Roanoke closed out the weekend with a 4-2 loss to division rival South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, SC. The loss prevented the Express from pulling to within a point of the fourth place Stingrays.

The Stingrays peppered the Roanoke net with 40 shots in the first two periods, although it was the Express that scored first. Joe Dusbabek tallied a power play goal at 4:27 of the second period to break a scoreless tie. But from that point on, South Carolina took control of the game. The Stingrays scored goals at 11:00, 12:59 and then with three seconds remaining in the period to take a 3-1 lead after two periods.

In the third period, the Express battled back, with Carl Mallette scoring on a defection at 11:45 of the third period, but South Carolina clamped down defensively to prevent Roanoke from tying the game. The Stingrays then sealed the win with an empty net goal with 40 seconds remaining.

Jason Wolfe played a magnificent game in net for the Express making several spectacular saves, but saw three get passed him on the 45 South Carolina shots. The loss dropped him to 13-15-2. The loss also brought Roanoke's record vs. South Carolina to 2-1-1 this season, with one game remaining between the two teams.

UPCOMING GAMES

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2004 vs. BAKERSFIELD 7:00 p.m.

Roanoke returns home Tuesday to take on the Bakersfield Condors for the only time this season. The Condors are the third west coast team the Express plays this season. Roanoke lost the opening game of the season against Long Beach, then collected a win against Las Vegas in its two previous games against the new west coast clubs. So far, Bakersfield is 1-4-0 on their east coast trip. The Condors begin this week's action with a 19-28-7 record (45pts., 5th Pacific Division), and have lost four straight.

The Express will be wearing special "Madri Gras" jerseys on Tuesday night. These uniforms will be available to fans to bid on via a silent auction during the game.

FRIDAY, FEBURAY 27, 2004 at ATLANTIC CITY 7:05 p.m.

The Express and the Boardwalk Bullies meet for the fourth and final time this season on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. So far on this season, the defending Kelly Cup Champion Boardwalk Bullies have collected wins in the previous three games against the Express. Atlantic City picked up a 3-0 the first time the former division rivals met on Oct. 22 in AC, then earned wins of 4-2 (Oct. 28) and 5-1 (Jan. 9) at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Bullies begin this week battling for first place in the Northern Division with a 36-12-4 record (76 pts., 2nd Northern Division). The Bullies enter this week having won four straight. Roanoke is 10-9-3 all-time vs. Atlantic City.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2004 vs. DAYTON 7:30 p.m.

Roanoke plays the first of back-to-back games at the Roanoke Civic Center against the Dayton Bomber on Saturday night. The Express is 1-0-1 this season against the Bombers. Roanoke picked up a 3-2 win the first time the teams played in Dayton on Nov. 23, then lost in a shootout 2-1 on Jan. 28 in Dayton. The Bombers begin this week's play with a record of 19-29-5 (43 pts., 9th Northern Division). The Express holds an all-time record of 9-13-6 vs. Dayton.

Saturday night, the Express is offering $5 tickets to anyone who was in attendance on February 21 on "Pack The Roundhouse Night" Fans who present their ticket stub from that game at the Roanoke Civic Center box office will receive the discounted ticket price.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2004 vs. DAYTON 4:00 p.m.

Sunday afternoon the Express and Bombers wrap up their season series at the Roanoke Civic Center.

Following the game on Sunday, the Express will feature a "Guns and Hoses" game between local firefighters and law enforcement! This charity hockey game between the firefighters and police officers will take place immediately following the Express game on February 29th, at 4pm as the Express battle the Dayton Bombers. The Express will wear special Fire Department jerseys and these will be auctioned off after the game. Benefits from this game will be donated to the M.D.A..

NEWS & NOTES

Special Teams: The Express enters this week ranked 17th on the power play (17.0%) and ranked 15th on the penalty kill (82.7%).

League Leaders: Goaltender David Belitski is first among ECHL netminders is shootout save percentage with a .833 mark...forward Carl Mallette is fifth among rookie scorers with 48 points (18g, 30a)...defenseman Duncan Dalmao is seventh in scoring among ECHL defenseman with 42 points (6g, 36a), Dalmao is also fourth among defenseman with 20 power play assists, and fourth with 24 power play points.

Who's Hot: Defenseman Duncan Dalmao has points in three of the last four games...D Dan Carney has four assists in his last four games...C Carl Mallette has collected points in six of the first seven games he's played in with Roanoke (4g, 3a) and overall in seven of the last eight (4g, 5a)...C Dan Carlson has picked up points in five of the last six games (2g, 3a)...RW Rick Kowalsky has earned points in five of the last six (4g, 2a)...G Jason Wolfe is 3-1-0 in his last four starts, with a 1.72 GAA, and a .955 save percentage.

Injury Bug: The Express continues to struggle with the injury bug, with David Silverstone, Josh Barker, Blair Stayzer and Travis Smith all sidelined with injuries.

In The Division: Roanoke is 16-9-4 against its Southern Division opponents this season. 36 of their 56 points have come against divisional opponents.

How Are They Doing?: Shawn Limpright remains on call-up to the American Hockey League. Limpright has skated in 20 games with the Syracuse Crunch, picking up five goals and four assists, while collecting 42 penalty minutes, and holds a plus-10 rating.

UPCOMING PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

Monday, February 23 OFF

Tuesday, February 24 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center

7:00 p.m. GAME vs. Bakersfield @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Wednesday, February 25 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Thursday, February 26 Travel Day to Atlantic City

Friday, February 27 7:05 p.m. GAME vs. Atlantic City @ Boardwalk Hall

Saturday, February 28 7:30 p.m. GAME vs. Dayton @ The Roanoke Civic Center

Sunday, February 29 4:00 p.m. GAME vs. Dayton @ The Roanoke Civic 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

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from February 23, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Roanoke Express Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central