ROANOKE RAIL YARD DAWGS (4-8-2) vs FAYETTEVILLE FIREANTZ (6-7-1)

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GAME NOTES

LAST TIME OUT: The Rail Yard Dawgs scored three times in the first period but allowed four unanswered goals and were defeated by the Huntsville Havoc, 6-3, on December 3 at the Berglund Center. Peter Gintoli, Michael Turner and Jackson Brewer all scored in the game for the Dawgs and Ryan de Melo allowed five goals on 32 shots in the losing effort. 

GOING THE WRONG WAY: Last Saturday’s loss was Roanoke’s sixth straight, its longest losing streak of the young season. The Dawgs have been outscored 24-12 over the streak and now sit tied for ninth place in the SPHL.

ECHL BOOMERANG: Tim Boyle was returned to Roanoke on Tuesday after an eight-game stint in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals (EDM: ECHL). He spent two days on the Rail Yard Dawgs roster before being sent back to the ECHL and loaned to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (NYR: ECHL) on Thursday. Boyle played one game with the Swamp Rabbits and was returned to Roanoke on Saturday. The Dawgs are 0-6-1 without Boyle in the lineup and 4-2-1 when he suits up

MORE DAWGS TO THE COAST: Travis Armstrong was loaned to Norfolk (EDM: ECHL) on Tuesday and has appeared in four games with no points. Michael Turner was loaned to Greenville (NYR: ECHL) on Thursday and made his ECHL debut that night. He has yet to record a point in his three games as a Swamp Rabbit.

AND IN OTHER ROSTER NEWS: Forwards Ian Harris and Mark Meads were waived, forwards Daniel Vernace and Colin Murray were signed and forward Mike Moroso was activated from IR during the last week. Murray has played in 113 career ECHL games over parts of three seasons and will make his SPHL debut. The Rail Yard Dawgs are the third SPHL team that Vernace will suit up for, having begun the season with Evansville, been traded to Fayetteville and cut by the FireAntz on 11/23.

NO LONGER A DAY OF REST: The Rail Yard Dawgs play on a Sunday for the first time this season this afternoon in Fayetteville.

ANT INFESTATION: Roanoke’s next three games will come against the FireAntz as the Dawgs will play two at home against Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday after Sunday’s game in Fayetteville. Roanoke won the only prior meeting against Fayetteville, 4-2, at home on November 4.

THREE AT A TIME: Roanoke scored three times in the first period against Huntsville last Saturday, equaling its biggest scoring output in a single game this season. The Dawgs had scored three in a period three times prior, most recently in the second period on October 29 at home against Evansville.

POWERING UP?: The Dawgs went 1-for-4 on the power play last Saturday against Huntsville, scoring on its first chance. Roanoke had been one for its last 30 on the man advantage.

UP NEXT: The Rail Yard Dawgs return home on Friday at 7:05 PM to host the FireAntz.