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April 12, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Roanoke Express News Release


ROANOKE, VA – The Roanoke Express is in the midst of its first round playoff series with the Florida Everblades. The best-of-five series is led by Florida 2-games-to-1. After a regular season series which saw the home team win each game, so far in the first round of this Southern Division Playoff matchup, it's been the visitors who has won each game.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION vs. FLORIDA

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2004 – GAME 1 at Roanoke 4-3 Loss The Express fell behind 2-0 midway through the first period before scrapping its was back into the game, but in the end came one goal short of the Everblades, who took and early 1-0 lead in the series.

Chad LaRose set the tone early for Florida, scoring just 58 seconds into the game. Everblades captain Matt Pagnutti made it a 2-0 lead with his first of the playoffs at 11:02 of the opening period. The Express began working its way back into the game midway through the second period when Rick Kowalsky slipped a shot past Florida goaltender Rob Zepp to cut the lead in half. After John McNabb regained Florida's two-goal lead at 13:19 of the middle stanza, former Florida Everblade Carl Mallette tallied his first goal of the post season at 17:08 of the second period to trim Florida's lead to 3-2 heading into the third period.

Each team notched a goal in the final period, Florida once again regaining a two-goal lead on Tom Buckley's first of the playoffs. With a flurry of offensive pressure, the Express again drew to within one goal at 4-3 when Mallette jammed home a shot with 1:28 remaining in the game.

Zepp made 39 saves in goal for Florida to collect the win. Suffering the loss for Roanoke was David Belitski who faced 46 Florida shots, stopping 42 of them.

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2004 – GAME 2 at Roanoke 6-3 Loss

The Express fell behind two-games-to-none after a 6-3 victory by the Everblades in game two of the series.

For the second consecutive game the Everblades jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period of the game. Tom Buckley and Brian McCullough each notched first period goals to give Florida the early advantage. Roanoke notched the only second period goal when Josh Barker fired a shot into the upper left corner of the net making it a 2-1 contest. The Express then tied the game early in the third period when Dan Carlson scored just 51 seconds into the final period. Despite the momentum for Roanoke, the Everblades dashed the Express' hopes with a pair of goal separated by 2:06 early in the third period. Former Express defenseman Tim O'Connell and Ryan Brindley put Florida back up by two goals in that short span by the 6:00 mark of the final period. Carlson collected his second goal of the night at 9:03 to cut the Everblades lead to 4-3, but Florida picked up two goals from Buckley in the final 9:10 to seal th win. The hat-trick for Buckley was the first in his post season career.

David Belitski made his second straight start in goal for Roanoke, and suffered the loss, allowing the six goals on 34 shots. Florida turned to Jeff Maund in game two, and he collected the win by stopping 37 of 40 Roanoke shots.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2004 – GAME 3 at FLORIDA 5-3 Win

The scene shifted to Estero, Florida for game three of the series, with a chance for the Everblades to sweep the Express, however, it was Roanoke who emerged the victors while facing elimination.

Just like the previous two games, it was the Everblades who tallied first to take the early lead. Red-hot Tom Buckley notched his 5th playoff goal just 3:09 into the game to put Florida ahead quickly. However, unlike the previous two games, the Express collected the next goal to tie the game up. Dan Carlson scored his 3rd playoff goal at 7:59 of the opening period to pull Roanoke even. The Everblades took a 2-1 lead on Damian Surma's first playoff goal at 16:26 of the first period, but again the Express fought back tying the game on Joe Dusbabek's first post-season goal at 17:21.

Even at two goals apiece heading into the second period, Roanoke took its first lead of the series when Carl Mallette completed a 2-on-1 at 4:31 to put the Express up 3-2. This time it was Florida who battled back to tie the game when Surma collected his second of the night at 8:48 of the second period. Mallette scored the eventual game-winner at 10:53 of the second putting the Express up 4-3.

The one-goal lead stood until the final 11 seconds of the game, when Dusbabek collected and empty-netter to seal the win. Roanoke turned to Jason Wolfe to man the pipes in game three, and came away with the win after making 30 saves. Jeff Maund started in goal for Florida, but was lifted midway through the second period after allowing the fourth Roanoke goal. Rob Zepp finished off the night in net for the Everblades without allowing a goal.

UPCOMING GAMES

Game 4: Monday, April 12, 2004 @ Florida – 7:30 p.m.

Game 5:* Thursday, April 15, 2004 @ Roanoke – 7:00 p.m.

* If Necessary

NEWS & NOTES

Playoff Leaders: Carl Mallette leads the Express in scoring after the first three games of the playoffs with 4 goals and 2 assists. Three of his four goals have come on the power play.

Bus vs. Plane: Following game two of the series in Roanoke on Thursday night, the Express hopped on the bus to make the 15-hour trip to Ft. Myers. In an attempt to gain a large advantage, the Everblades bused to the airport in Roanoke to fly home, arriving a full 12 hours before the Express. Obviously not as much of an advantage as Everblades President/General Manager Craig Brush had hoped for with Roanoke picking up the 5-3 win. Oh by the way, the cost for the hoped advantage of flying his team home...around $20,000.

UPCOMING PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE

Monday, April 12 7:30 p.m. GAME vs. Florida @ TECO Arena

Tuesday, April 13 Travel Day to Roanoke

Wednesday, April 14 10:00 a.m. practice @ The Roanoke Civic Center – if necessary

Thursday, April 15 10:00 a.m. pre-game skate @ The Roanoke Civic Center – if necessary

7:00 p.m. GAME vs. Florida @ The Roanoke Civic Center – if necessary

Friday, April 16 TBA

Saturday, April 17 TBA

Sunday, April 18 TBA

(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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