In another stellar performance, the Stingers destroyed the competition.
This time they set a new league record of 16 consecutive goals while doing so. The former
record was set by the Winnipeg Jets and Houston Aeros who had 15 each. Regrettably the
record breaking performance was viewed in front of only 5,608 fans at Riverfront Coliseum.
|
© Courtesy of Cincinnati
Public Library. |
Rick Dudley of the Stingers crashes into the
Saints goaltender Mike Curran. |
The assault on the Saints began
when Ron Plumb took a pass from Dennis Abgrall and slapped the puck into the net from
behind the left circle. The next goal was by Dennis Abgrall at 7:59 when he hit in a
rebound off a shot taken by Richie Leduc. Leduc then scored the next goal after taking a
pass from teammate John Hughes. Leducs shot was partially blocked by Saints goalie Curran
but the puck eventually drifted its way into the net for the score.
Team captain Rick Dudley scored the
only goal in the second period at 10:21. His opportunity came when the puck popped loose
after a shot taken by Billy Steele. Dudley was perfectly positioned when Steeles shot was
blocked.
Ron Plumb went on to score the record
breaking goal at 7:41 after taking a pass from teammate Dennis Sobchuk. Plumb was almost
in the exact same position that he was when he scored his first goal. He proceeded to bash
the puck right into the net for the score. Cincinnati kept the Saints in check for the
rest of the game and LaPointe went on earn his second straight shutout. The shutout tied
Winnipeg Jets Joe Daley for back-to-back shut outs in the WHA. The win pulled the Stingers
within three points of the division leading Nordiques.
In other news, the 1976 World Champion Cincinnati Reds traded
beloved and longtime Red Tony Perez to the Montreal Expos. Perez was sent north with
pitcher Will McEnaney in exchange for pitchers Woody Fryman and Dale Murray. Tony was the
heart of the the team and the trade was the beginning of the end of the Big Red Machine. |
