Sunday, April 12, 1998 | 9:06 a.m.
From Sports Report Service.
Orlando Solar Bears 6, Detroit Vipers 4
ORLANDO--Hubie McDonough scored three goals and assisted on two others as the Orlando Solar Bears (42-30-10) closed out their regular season with a 6-4 win over the Northeast Division champion Detroit Vipers Saturday in front of 8,107 at Orlando Arena. McDonough netted Orlando's first three goals, at 16:51 and 17:29 of the first period, and 14:57 of the second, then set up Shawn Wansborough's third goal of the season and assisted on Mark Beaufait's game-winner at 1:46 of the third. Grigori Panteleyev added an insurance tally at 8:39. Wansborough, Beaufait and Jason Herter also had two assists apiece. The Solar Bears scored on both their power play chances. Detroit (47-20-15) got on the board first, with Wayne Pressley's goal 9:08 after the opening faceoff. Patrice Tardif and Darren Banks scored in the second, and Tardif assisted on Steve Walker's third-period tally. Both goalies faced 28 shots. Allan Bester made 24 saves to post the win, and Detroit's Marc Magliarditi stopped 22.
Houston Aeros 4, Manitoba Moose 1
WINNIPEG--The Houston Aeros (50-22-10) won their final game of the regular season 4-1 over the Manitoba Moose, behind a two-goal performance by Rob Valisevic. The teams met Saturday in front of 10,363 at Winnipeg Arena. Valisevic, who also assisted on the Aeros' first goal, by Greg Hawgood, won the game at 10:56 of the second period, and capped the Houston scoring at 10:56 of the third. Brent Hughes also scored, and Brian Wiseman picked up his 70th and 71st assists of the season. The Moose (39-36-7), who had won six coming into Saturday's regular season finale, led at the end of one period on a goal by Kent Fearns at 10:57. The Houston defense held Manitoba to only 18 shots, 17 of which were handled safely by goalie Frederic Chabot. Manitoba's Johan Hedburg turned away 24 of the 28 shots he faced in the first 51:04. Fred Brathwaite faced and saved eight in relief.
Quebec Rafales 4, Grand Rapids Griffins 1
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--The Quebec Rafales (26-48-7) spoiled the Grand Rapids Griffins' chance for home ice in the first round of IHL playoffs by taking a 4-1 win Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 10,834 at Van Andel Arena. Francois Sasseville scored the winning goal at 17:25 of the first period, 4:50 after Burke Murphy had given the Rafales a 1-0 lead. Dave Paradise finished the Rafales' scoring with power play goals at 12:32 of the second period and 2:41 of the third. Danton Cole saved Grand Rapids (38-31-13) from the shutout, scoring with assists from Mark Cornforth and Matt Ruchty at 5:38 of the second period. Winning goalie Frederick Deschesne faced 34 shots and made 33 saves. Patrick Lalime stopped eight of 11 for the Griffins before being replaced at 12:32 of the second by Ian Gordon, who went 11 for 12.
Cleveland Lumberjacks 3, Fort Wayne Komets 2 (SO)
FORT WAYNE, Ind.--Christian Campeau scored in the first shootout round, and goalie Tom Draper turned away five straight attempts, to give the Cleveland Lumberjacks (35-27-10) a 3-2 win over the Fort Wayne Komets (47-28-6) Saturday before 6,433 at Memorial Coliseum. It was the second straight night the Jacks had beaten the Central Division champion Komets, and moved Cleveland past Michigan into fourth place in the final division standings. Cleveland came back twice to tie the score in regulation, with Jason Ruff and Jason McBain scoring to offset second- and third-period goals from the Komets' Steffon Walby. Draper faced 36 shots and made 34 saves in regulation. Bruce Racine snagged 32 of 34 Cleveland attempts in regulation, and stopped four of five in the shootout.
Cincinnati Cyclones 4, Milwaukee Admirals 3
CINCINNATI--Doug MacDonald's shorthanded goal at 6:49 of the third period gave the Cincinnati Cyclones (40-30-12) a 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Admirals (43-33-5) Saturday night at The Crown. The crowd of 12,809 was the third-largest in franchise history. Brent Fedyk paced the Cyclones' attack with a pair of goals, one shorthanded and one on a power play. Gilbert Dionne, the IHL's third-leading scorer with 99 points, finished with one goal. Kelly Fairchild had a goal and an assist for the Admirals. Eric Fenton and Brian Felsner also scored, and Steve Tuttle finished with two assists. Geoff Sarjeant posted the win in goal, with 32 saves on 35 Milwaukee shots. Mike Minard stopped 27 of 31 for the Admirals. Cincinnati will host Grand Rapids in the first round of IHL playoffs.
Chicago Wolves 8, Michigan K-Wings 2
ROSEMONT, Ill.--The Chicago Wolves (54-24-3) scored five times in the first period on their way to an 8-2 win over the Michigan K-Wings (36-39-7) Saturday before 12,022 at the Rosemont Horizon. Scott Pearson scored once in each period to lead the Wolves to their fourth straight win. Steve Maltais and Chris Marinucci finished with a goal and an assist apiece. Tim Breslin and Bob Nardella each scored once, and Steve Martins recorded three assists. Peter Douris scored for Michigan, at 14:12 of the second period and 2:53. The loss drops the K-Wings to fifth in the IHL Central Division and eighth seed in the playoffs. Winning goalie Stephane Beauregard turned away 33 of Michigan's 35 shots. Manny Fernandez weathered a 51-shot Chicago attack, making 43 saves.
Indianapolis Ice 5, Kansas City Blades 0
INDIANAPOLIS--The Indianapolis Ice (40-36-6) wrapped up their regular season with a 5-0 shutout win over the Kansas City Blades Saturday in front of 4,730 at Market Square Arena. Ice goalie Jani Hurme held off a 47-shot Blades attack to take the win. Ryan Huska scored the first Indianapolis goal, at 16:26 of the first period, and helped start a four-goal third-period run by assisting on Ryan Vandenbussche's first goal of the season. Kent Paynter, Petri Varis and IHL goal scoring leader Todd White rounded out the scoring. Blades goalie Pokey Reddick faced 33 shots and made 28 saves. The win gave Indianapolis coach Bob Ferguson a franchise-record third straight season with 40 or more wins.
San Antonio Dragons 8, Las Vegas Thunder 3
LAS VEGAS--Davis Payne and John Purves each had a goal and an assist as the San Antonio Dragons (25-29-8) beat the Las Vegas Thunder 8-3 Saturday in front of 8,349 at the Thomas & Mack Center. The season-ending win snapped a four-game Dragons losing streak. San Antonio led 3-1 at the end of the first period and never relinquished the lead. Andy Roach scored once and assisted on goals by Payne, Darren Rumble and Kurt Mallett. Micah Aivazoff finished with one goal and one assist. Petr Nedved had a pair of power play goals for the Thunder (33-38-10), and Jeff Christian added a goal and an assist. Patrice Lefebvre picked up an assist for the fifth straight game, giving him a league-high 89 for the season. Scott Bailey picked up the win in goal by stopping 36 of 39 Las Vegas shots. Tim Cheveldae stopped 29 of 37 in the losing effort.
Long Beach Ice Dogs 4, Utah Grizzlies 3
LONG BEACH, Calif.--Patrik Augusta scored four goals, including the game-winner with 37 seconds left, to lead the Long Beach Ice Dogs (52-20-9) to a 4-3 win over the Utah Grizzlies Saturday in front of 8,163 at Long Beach Arena. Victor Ignatjev recorded two assists for the Ice Dogs, including the 200th of his career. Kip Miller had two goals for Utah (47-27-8), and Chris Taylor a goal and an assist. The Grizzlies lost their last four regular season games. Long Beach goalie Kay Whitmore faced 30 shots and made 27 saves. Utah's Jamie Ram stopped 31 of 35. The Ice Dogs lead Chicago by two points for the IHL's Huber Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Both teams end their regular seasons Sunday.
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