Lacroix Leads WHA East To Easy 8-4 Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Andre Lacroix said he went into Thursday night's World Hockey Assn. All-Star game with something to prove. "I was really up for this one," said the Jersey Knights' center, who led the East to an 8-4 victory with two goals and an assist. Lacroix was playing in his first All-Star game despite winning the WHA scoring title a year ago. "I wanted to show that it wasn't a fluke," said Lacroix, referring to his performance last season. "To me this was like a playoff game."

Lacroix and Gerry Pinder teamed to cap a five-goal first-period outburst and later combined for another goal to pace the East's lopsided victory. "They just played better all the way around," said Bobby Hull, the West player-coach. "They out-skated us all the way and outplayed us in their end." Only Minnesota's Mike Walton, who was named the game's Most Valuable Player, kept the West alive, scoring three of his team's goals. The Lacroix-Pinder combination upstaged the reunion of Hull and Houston's Gordie Howe as All-Star teammates. Both of the former National Hockey League superstars were on the ice for the West for three of the East's goals, including the two in the first period by Lacroix and Pinder.

[source: upi]