ECHL South Carolina Stingrays

Lacroix Sends Stingrays to the Semifinals

Published on April 8, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
South Carolina Stingrays News Release


Duluth, GA - Forward Maxime Lacroix scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to give the South Carolina Stingrays (3-1) a 4-3 victory and 3-1 series win over the Gwinnett Gladiators (1-3) in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at The Arena at Gwinnett Center Sunday afternoon.

After a scoreless first period, four goals found the twine in the second frame to send the Stingrays and Gladiators tied 2-2 into the second intermission. Stingrays defenseman Brett Flemming opened the scoring on the power play at 4:35 slipping a shot under the blocker of Gladiators goaltender Marc Cheverie (L, 47 saves on 51 shots) from the right-wing circle. Forwards Pierre-Luc O'Brien and Lacroix earned assists. The Gladiators responded with a tally from former Stingray Nikita Kashirsky on the man advantage at 13:36 from defenseman Dallas Jackson and forward Bryan Brutlag.

Less than a minute later, Lacroix put the Stingrays back on top blasting a pass from forward Chris Higgins over the glove of Cheverie at 14:05. Kashirsky buried his second of the night at 16:54 while on the power play lifting a shot over the right shoulder of Stingrays netminder Rob Madore (W, 39 saves on 42 shots). Cheverie added the lone assist.

Higgins made it 3-2 at 1:30 of the final period from Lacroix and forward Daniel Koger. With 1:40 to play, the Gladiators knotted the game back up on a marker from defenseman Will Colbert with help from Jackson and forward Andy Brandt.

In double overtime, Higgins found Lacroix at the near pipe of Cheverie for the game-winning goal at 16:52. Koger grabbed the second assist. The Stingrays ended the afternoon 1-for-3 on the power play while the Gladiators went 2-for-4.

The Stingrays face the Kalamazoo Wings in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Wings Stadium. The series moves to the North Charleston Coliseum for Game Three, Four and Five on Wednesday, April 18, Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at 7:05 p.m. Visit Stingrayshockey.com for tickets and information.

Save up to $280 off of box office prices with a Stingrays Ticket Package! Call the Stingrays Office at (843) 744-2248 for more information.

Check out the South Carolina Stingrays Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from April 8, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central