Roanoke Express weekly

March 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express completed another light week of action picking up one point in the standings in their only game. Roanoke has won four of its last six games and enters this week with a record of 29-26-7, (65 pts., 6th place in Southern Division).

LAST WEEK'S ACTION

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2004 at CHARLOTTE 2-1 Shootout Loss The Express took on division rival Charlotte on Saturday night at Cricket Arena in Charlotte NC and fell to the Checkers 2-1 in a shootout. The result gave the Express a point in the standings.

The low scoring affair began with the Checkers collecting a power play goal by Rory Rawlyk 6:51 into the opening period. The Checkers held the 1-0 lead until Carl Mallette notched a power play tally of his own for the Express with just 36 seconds remaining in the first period. The goal for Mallette, extended his season-high points scoring streak to 10 games, which also matches Shawn Limpright for the longest streak by a Roanoke player this season.

From there, the goaltending and defense dominated from the remainder of regulation. One of the best chances for Roanoke was a four-minute power play opportunity midway through the third period, but Charlotte successfully killed off the attempt. In overtime, it was the Checkers with the good chance to win the game with a power play attempt, but this time it was the Roanoke penalty killers who stepped up to kill it off.

With the teams remaining tied a one after overtime, the game moved to a shootout. It was the first time the two teams needed a shootout to decide a game, and it was the Checkers' final shooter in the fifth round that decided the game. After both goaltenders stopped the other teams' first four attempts, Rick Kowalsky failed to score on Roanoke's fifth attempt, but Ryan Cuthbert for Charlotte was able to slip his shot past David Belitski to give Charlotte the extra point in the standings.

Overall, Belitski stopped 30 of 31 Charlotte shots in regulation and overtime to collect a tie, which brings his record to 16-10-5. Gregg Naumenko picked up the win in goal for the Checkers by stopping 28 of 29 Roanoke shots in regulation and overtime, and stopping all five shots in the shootout, bringing his record to 10-9-2. The tie for Roanoke brought their record against Charlotte to 3-1-1 on the season, with one game remaining between the teams. Roanoke's shootout record is now 6-4.

UPCOMING GAMES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2004 vs. ALASKA 7:00 p.m.

Roanoke begins the stretch drive of the 2003-2004 season on Wednesday night when they host the Alaska Aces at the Roanoke Civic Center. The game is the only of the season between the two teams, and is the fourth for the Express against a west coast team. So far on the year, Roanoke is 2-1-0 vs. the new west coast clubs. The Express has picked up wins against Las Vegas and Bakersfield, and suffered a loss to Long Beach on the opening day of the season. For Alaska the game is the second of their six-game east coast swing. Coming into this week's action, the Aces have a record of 32-25-4 (68 pts., 4th Pacific Division), and have won just twice in their last seven games. The Aces need just one point in the standings to collect the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004, vs. COLUMBIA 7:30 p.m.

The Express takes on Southern Division leading Columbia on Friday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The game is the fifth of six between the division rivals, and the third of four at the Roundhouse. The Express holds a 3-1-0 record be the Inferno this season. Roanoke's wins came on Nov. 8 (4-3, shootout), Dec. 19 (5-4, shootout), and Mar. 4

(4-2). Columbia's lone win in the series came on Jan. 8 (7-0). The Inferno enters this week with a record of 37-19-7 (81pts., 1st Southern Division), and has won eight of its last 10 games. Roanoke is 3-3-0 all-time vs. Columbia.

Friday night, the Express is giving out pucks to the first 1,500 fans in attendance. Each of the 1,500 fans will receive a voucher for the puck, which will be redeemable at any local Stop-In Food Store. The pucks are courtesy of Stop-In Food Stores and Dr. Pepper.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2004 vs. SOUTH CAROLINA 7:30 p.m.

Roanoke and South Carolina meet for the fifth and final time on the regular season on Saturday night at the Roanoke Civic Center. The game will be the second played between the two clubs at the Roundhouse. The Express is 2-1-1 this season against the Stingrays. Roanoke picked its wins on Nov. 16 (3-1) and Nov. 29 (3-1). South Carolina collected a shootout win over the Express on Feb. 5 (3-2) and a regulation win in the most recent meeting between the division rivals on Feb. 22 (4-2). South Carolina enters the week with a record of 34-24-3 (71 pts., T-3rd Southern Division), but has lost its last three games coming into this week's action. The Express holds an all-time record of

19-14-5 vs. South Carolina.

Saturday night at the Roanoke Civic Center is "Military Night". Anyone presenting a military ID at the ticket window will receive a discount on Gold and Silver section seats. Adults will be admitted for just $6 and children for just $4. In addition, the Express players will be wear special camouflage uniforms, which will be auctioned off to fans following the game.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2004 at AUGUSTA 4:00 p.m.

The Express closes out a busy weekend with its fourth and final game of the season against the Augusta Lynx on Sunday afternoon at the Augusta-Richmond Country Civic Center. The Lynx are 2-1-0 vs. Roanoke this season. The Express' lone win in the series was a 5-1 decision at the Roanoke Civic Center on Nov. 7. Augusta has won both games between the two teams in Augusta (Jan. 2, 6-4 & Feb. 6, 4-1). The Lynx begin the week with a record of

27-27-7 (61 pts., 6th Central Division), and has won four straight games entering this week. Roanoke is 28-18-6 all-time vs. Augusta.

NEWS & NOTES

Special Teams: The Express enters this week ranked 16th on the power play (16.9%) and ranked 12th on the penalty kill (83.2%).

Lots 'O Shots: The Express currently ranks 29th in average shots allowed, surrendering 38.1 per game. Roanoke has allowed at least 45 shots in five of the last nine games, and has held its opponents to under 30 shots just twice in the last 29 games.

Who's Hot: Defenseman Duncan Dalmao has points in seven of the last nine games (0g, 9a)...forward Carl Mallette has picked up points in 10 straight games and in 11 of the first 12 games he has played in with Roanoke (8g, 10a)...forward Dan Carlson has notched points in nine of the last 11 (6g, 6a)...forward Rick Kowalsky has scored points in 10 of the last 12 games (6g, 7a)...goaltender Jason Wolfe is 3-2-0 in his last five starts with a 2.17 GAA, and .947 save percentage...goalie David Belitski is 4-0-1 in his last five starts with a 1.97 GAA and .940 save percentage.

League Leaders: Express captain Rick Kowalsky is 20th among ECHL scorers with 62 points (26g, 36a)...goaltender David Belitski is 3rd among ECHL netminders is shootout save percentage with a .800 mark... forward Carl Mallette is 4th among rookie scorers with 59 points (22g, 37a) and is 4th among ECHL rookies with 34 assists...defenseman Duncan Dalmao is seventh in scoring among ECHL defenseman with 46 points (6g, 40a). His 40 assists ranks 5th among ECHL defenseman, and Dalmao is also 4th among defenseman with 22 power play assists, and 4th with 26 power play points.

In The Division: Roanoke is 17-9-5 against its Southern Division opponents this season. 39 of their 65 points have come against divisional opponents.

How Is He Doing?: Shawn Limpright remains on call-up to the American Hockey League. Limpright has skated in 30 games with the Syracuse Crunch, picking up six goals and five assists, while collecting 57 penalty minutes, and holds a plus-9 rating.

Coach's Corner: The next Coach's Corner LIVE! progam will be held on Monday, March 22 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Village Grill in Roanoke. Fans can join Express broadcaster Kevin Reiter and Head Coach Tony MacAulay along with guest Carl Mallette live, or can tune in to the program live on 3WR.

UPCOMING PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

Monday, March 15 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Ice Station

Tuesday, March 16 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Ice Station

Wednesday, March 17 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center

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

Thursday, March 18 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Ice Station

Friday, March 19 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center

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

Saturday, March 20 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center

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

Sunday, March 21 4:00 p.m. GAME vs. Augusta @ The Augusta-Richmond County 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



ECHL Stories from March 15, 2004


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