Monday, April 22, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
It is being billed as a battle of two desperate hockey teams tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Two desperate teams?
You can understand why the Phoenix Roadrunners would approach Game 2 of their opening-round IHL Western Conference series against the Thunder with an air of desperation. The Roadrunners must find a way to win in Las Vegas if they intend to advance in the postseason.
But why would the Thunder consider itself a desperate team? Especially with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series and home-ice advantage?
"If you let up just one night, it can be your death sentence," said Thunder center Joe Day, one of the heroes of last week's 5-4 victory in Game 1. "It's the playoffs. Every game is desperate hockey."
And coach Chris McSorley wants the Thunder to be playing with a sense of urgency. Now's not the time to become complacent. He spent the weekend running short but up-tempo practices while fine-tuning things and making sure his team is prepared for anything Phoenix tries tonight.
"We need to match their desperation," McSorley said after Sunday's 40-minute workout at the Santa Fe. "These last three to four days have been very productive for us. We've been able to get total rest and it has given us a chance to work on our game. We're ready to get back at it."
In Phoenix, Rob Laird has been doing some fine-tuning of his own, trying to get the Roadrunners ready to spring the upset and get back in the series.
"We've had three pretty productive days of practice," Laird said. "And we'll probably have a change or two in the lineup. But we need to do some things better, and obviously, we're going to have to play a 60-minute game against them."
Laird wouldn't disclose what changes he intended to make but Frederick Beaubien doesn't figure to be one of them. Beaubien started in goal in Game 1 and with Jamie Storr still nursing a groin pull, Beaubien figures to remain in the nets.
However, the Roadrunners may change things up defensively. Barry Potomski has had a few extra days for his shoulder to heal and may dress tonight. Phoenix may also dress Aki Berg, who spent most of the season with the Los Angeles Kings but was a healthy scratch from Game 1.
The Roadrunners were very aggressive trying to forecheck and pressure the Thunder defense in Game 1 and McSorley anticipates more of the same tonight.
"Robbie's a smart and creative coach," he said of Laird. "He'll have some different checking schemes and they'll probably try and pressure us more."
But that could backfire if the Thunder keeps its transition game going. Las Vegas handled the pressure in Game 1. The problem was finishing off its opportunities.
"We had good chances," center Bill Bowler said. "We just didn't put them away early."
Bowler said the Thunder will be ready for anything.
"This is just as big a game for us as it is for them," he said. "We don't want to lose home ice or any momentum."
McSorley said: "I was taught when I was young that when you're in a fight and you've got your opponent down, don't let them up.
"We've got the foot on their throat and we want to keep that foot right where it is."
Thunderbolts...
* BOWLER STAYS PUT: It appears the line of Bill Bowler, Ken Quinney and Patrice Lefebvre will remain intact for Game 2 tonight despite being shut out in Game 1 and seeing the return of Paul DiPietro to the Thunder's lineup. DiPietro sat out Game 1 with the stomach flu and coach Chris McSorley was reluctant to juggle his lines. "It's great to have Paul back," he said. "But I have to be careful not to disrupt the team's rhythm." DiPietro will likely skate with Joe Day and either Blaine Moore, Darren Banks or Sasha Lakovic.
* USE GAME 2 TICKETS: Fans holding tickets to tonight's game at the Thomas & Mack are reminded to use those designated "Game 2" and ignore the date on them. ... With a win tonight, the Thunder would be the lone Western Conference team to hold a 2-0 lead in its best-of-five series. The other three series are all even at 1-1.
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