If the Richmond Renegades played Knoxville more often, they might be in first place in the Southern Professional Hockey League instead of the Ice Bears.

Richmond improved its record against the No. 1 Ice Bears to 4-1-1 with a 5-2 victory behind some outstanding goaltending by A.J. Bucchino in front of 4,539 last night at the Coliseum.

"Certain teams you match up well against," Richmond coach Brian Goudie said. "Twin City is another one. But I think we can compete against any team in the league."

For the time being, Goudie is right. This was the Renegades' fourth straight victory and sixth of seven overall. The recent run has lifted them back to .500 (13-13-2) for the first time since Dec. 1, when they were 6-6-0.

"I'm not looking at .500," Goudie said. "I'm looking at winning six of seven. We dug ourselves into a hole and the guys have stuck together and dug ourselves out."

With the loudest crowd of the season on hand, Richmond built a 3-0 lead after 28 minutes and put it away by scoring twice in a span of 28 seconds midway through the third period.

J.J. Wrobel, returning from an eye injury, and Andre Gill supplied the quick goals that gave Richmond a 5-1 bulge, which was more than enough for Bucchino, who had 43 saves, several of them spectacular.

"Guys are buying in on defense, and defense wins games," said Goudie, whose club is 5-0-2 in its past seven home games. "We didn't give up too many quality shots, and A.J. made some big saves when he had to."

ANOTHER BIG LEAD: As has been the case in recent games, the Renegades scored twice in the opening period and again midway through the second to take a 3-0 advantage.

Tyler Schremp and Donald Melnyk accounted for the first-period goals. Wrobel sent a perfect pass to Schremp at the doorstep, and he redirected the puck past goaltender Ervins Mustukovs at 7:18.

Melnyk beat Mustukovs on a breakaway with 2:14 left in the period to make it 2-0. After Bucchino robbed a pair of Ice Bears earlier in the second frame, defenseman Martin Kloucek put the Renegades up by three when he fired a shot over Mustukovs' glove at 8:13.

But Knoxville (16-10-4) cut the deficit to 3-1 before period's end on a short-handed, breakaway goal by Mike Carter at 18:17. It was the eighth short-handed goal the Renegades have allowed this season, second-worst in the SPHL.

NEW ALTERNATE CAPTAINS: With the departure of Danny White to Slovenia, the Renegades needed another alternate captain. Gill has been designated to wear the 'A,' which means he can confer with the referee regarding penalties, etc., when he's on the ice.

Melnyk also is wearing an 'A' on his jersey, replacing Wrobel as an alternate captain. Wrobel missed five games and wore a full shield last night to protect his left eye.

Wrobel took a puck in his eye Dec. 28 against Fayetteville. Defenseman Dan Vandermeer sports the captain's 'C.'

Knoxville ------------------------- 0
Richmond ------------------------- 2

1

1 - 2

1

2 - 5

First period - 1, Richmond, Schremp 2 (Wrobel, Hickman), 7:18. 2, Richmond, Melnyk 13 (Karasiewicz, Lyke), 17:46. Penalties - Hickman, Rich (tripping), 7:34; Pierce, Knox (high-sticking), 14:48; Karasiewicz, Rich (goalie interference), 15:38.

Second period - 3, Richmond, Kloucek 6 (Joy, Lyke), 8:13. 4, Knoxville, Carter 9 (Swider), 18:17 (sh). Penalties - Norris, Rich (tripping), :55; Moore, Knox (tripping), 8:15; Kloucek, Rich (hooking), 8:59; Pelkey, Knox (interference), 13:12; Rutt, Knox (roughing), 16:36.

Third period - 5, Richmond, Wrobel 10 (Vandermeer, Lyke), 9:01 (pp). 6, Richmond, Gill 15 (Owens, Needham), 9:29. 7, Knoxville, Lynch 2 (Craigen), 19:34 (pp). Penalties - Lyke, Rich (cross-checking), 3:24; Phillips, Knox, major (fighting), 6:59; Kloucek, Rich, major (fighting), 6:59; Lynch, Knox (hooking), 8:23; Karasiewicz, Rich (hooking), 12:25; Vandermeer, Rich, minor-major (elbowing, fighting), 14:01; Cherneski, Knox, major (fighting), 14:01; Hickman, Rich (hooking), 18:15; Gill, Rich (slashing), 19:59.

Shots on goal - Knoxville 14-16-15 - 45. Richmond 10-7-7 - 24. Power-play opportunities - Knoxville 1 of 9, Richmond 1 of 5. Goalies - Knoxville: Mustukovs 8-4-1 (24 shots-19 saves), Richmond: Bucchino 6-2-3 (45-43). Referee: Justin Greene. A - 4,539.