The Stingers entered the game in the midst of a losing streak. Slater had
key players out of the line up throughout his team. His right winger Pierre Guite was out
with a knee injury while Gary Veneruzzo was asked not to suit up. He was asked to do so
due to the fact that he was not playing up to his capacity and that he was currently on
the trading block with the Phoenix Roadrunners.
 |
© Courtesy of Cincinnati Public Library. |
John Hughes of the Stingers slipped the puck
past Quebecs goaltender Richard Brodeur in the first period. |
The club was also down
two goal tenders. Despite the club scoring 17 goals in their last three games, Cincinnati
had given up 23 goals in those same three games. Injuries or not, this did not sit well
with head coach Terry Slater. The Stingers team doctor George Balou stated that goal
tender Normand LaPointe would be out for at least the week end and Serge Aubry was still
unavailable. With the poor performance by the teams Rich Couta against the Toros, head
coach Terry Slater was in a pinch. But despite LaPointes' throat injury he suited up for
the game against the Nordiques anyway. Playing with a protective rubber collar around his
neck.
The Stingers got on the board first
with an unassisted goal by the league leading rookie scorer Claude Larose at 3:40. Real
Cloutier of the Nordiques answered at 8:04 during a power play. The Stingers John Hughes
scored his first goal of the season at 8:55 and Dale Smedsmo followed shortly after.
Smedsmo eventually beat the Nordiques goal tender Richard Brodeur on a breakaway shot from
about 12 feet from the net. Brodeur blocked the shot but the puck bounced right back to
Smedsmo. The Stingers left winger batted the puck a second time from about six feet back,
finally scoring at 12:46. The Nordiques center Chris Bordeleau went on to score the final
goal of the period at 15:22. LaPointe missed a skate save on a slowly sliding shot from
across the blue line.
Defensman Ron Plumb scored a Stingers
goal 18 seconds into the second period. The Nordiques left wing Marc Tardif retaliated
shortly after with the first Nordiques goal of the period. Cincinnati's Claude Larose put
the puck in to score another Stingers goal at 6:22 to maintain their lead. But the
Stingers started getting in penalty trouble with John Hughes being called for hooking at
7:26, which set up a Nordiques goal on the power play by Cloutier. The Stingers Bernie
MacNeil then was called for charging at 9:45 which set up another Nordiques goal by Marc
Tardif that tied the game. A couple fights began breaking out, one involving Dale Smedsmo,
John Hughes, Rich Jordan and Rene LeClerc. All four participants were sent to the penalty
box but it was the Nordiques who came out with the advantage. The Nordiques came up with
four minutes worth of power play opportunities. But the Stingers held strong through the
Nordiques power play. However, seconds after both teams were at even strength, Cincinnati
gave up a goal by Steve Sutherland. Dudley was then sent to the penalty box for holding
and the Nordiques netted another goal. Cincinnati left the period down 7-5.
The third period saw the Nordiques take
on another goal late in the period by Serge Bernier. The goal came at the expense of yet
another power play due to the Stingers Dale Smedsmo being sent to the penalty box because
of a slashing call. The Stingers Bruce Abbey scored his first goal of the season at 18:33.
But the Nordiques Tardif scored yet again to give him the hat-trick and to give the
Nordiques a commanding victory of the Stingers.
Despite the fourth straight Stingers
loss and the New England Whalers 7-5 victory over the Phoenix Roadrunners, Cincinnati hung
on to first place in the division. |
