Saturday, Octoberber 31, 1998
BY JOHN PACKETT
Times-Dispatch Staff Writer
It was The Kid against The Old Man in the nets last night, and when it was over, the rookie had stolen a victory for the home team before 5,075 at the Coliseum.
Maxime Gingras, making his pro debut for Richmond, stopped 28 shots to lead the Renegades to a 3-1 victory over the Roanoke Express, who had former NHL goaltender Daniel Berthiaume between the pipes.
A 20-year-old out of Loretteville, Quebec, Gingras was signed by Richmond after being released by Dayton and trying out with Orlando (International League) and Michigan (IHL). The 5-6 165-pounder spent the past two seasons with the Laval Titans (Quebec major Junior League).
"I didn't play [in a game] for 3 1/2 weeks," said Gingras. "I was real nervous at the beginning. It's not the same as in practice. I only play in two exhibition games and just half a game each one. I have to prepare myself for this game.
"I want to earn the respect of my teammates. They don't know me. So this was an important game for me."
The Renegades only got two shots past Berthiaume, who has played over 200 NHL games and is in his 13th pro season. Ryan Kraft and Peter Roed beat him, and Forrest Gore added an empty-netter with 21.6 seconds left to allow Richmond to even its record at 2-2.
Roed's goal came midway through the third period and broke a tie at 1. The former second-round draft choice of the San Jose Sharks was battling with Roanoke defenseman Doug Searle for the puck just outside the Express crease, and moments later the red light came on.
"I don't know how I did it," Roed said. "I went to cut the pass off. The puck went up in the air, and I whacked it out of the air."
Berthiaume, who finished with 22 saves, was caught off guard and the puck eluded the 32-year-old.
"It was a lucky goal," Roed said. "He didn't expect it. I'll take it. We needed it."
The defense gave Gingras plenty of help, a vast improvement over the first three games, when Richmond gave up 15 goals.
"Kaufer [coach Mark Kaufman] talked to us about being tougher around the net," said Roed. "He wanted us clearing guys out."
Kraft accounted for Richmond's first goal 7:59 into the game. Taking a pass from defenseman Brandon Gray, Kraft skated unmolested into Roanoke's end and lifted a backhander over Berthiaume's stick side from deep in the right circle.
The Express (2-2) outshot Richmond 9-2 the rest of the period but couldn't get anything past Gingras.
Five minutes into the second session, Richmond defenseman Dan Back covered the puck in the crease, setting up a penalty shot for the Express. Duane Harmer took it, but was stoned by Gingras, who made a glove save on the Roanoke defenseman.
"It happened so fast, I didn't have time to think," said Gingras, who was fourth in the QMJHL last season with a 2.99 goals-against-average. "I was focused on him. He made the first move. I was in a good place. I think it was on the side [of the net] anyway."
Berthiaume kept the Renegades off the scoreboard - robbing four Renegades from close range - the rest of the period, and the Express tied it with just 2.2 seconds remaining. J.C. Ruid skated across the goal line, slid the puck back to Tim Christian, who got his stick on it in the slot.
The puck zipped under Gingras, who couldn't recover in time to stop the deflection.
"That was addressed between periods," Kaufman said. "The first minute and the last minute of a period, you don't want to give up a goal. I think we showed a little intensity in not folding. I thought we worked harder in all three zones than we had been."