Prior to the game it was announced that the Houston Aeros franchise was in
serious financial trouble. The Aeros would be one of a few WHA teams that were in trouble.
The Racers earlier in the year had trouble meeting payroll and the Fighting Saints folded
midseason. The Aeros were in the same situation as the Racers. That being unable to meet
payroll due to spiraling costs and low attendance. However, the club did have enough money
to pay Marty, Mark and Gordie Howe.
The Stingers got on the board in less
then a minute into the first period. Dennis Abgrall intercepted the puck from a Calgary
player and then passed it to Rich Leduc. Leduc slipped the puck into the net, all within
forty nine seconds of play. Leduc scored again at 3:49 in the period when he slapped a
shot from well outside past Calgary's goalie Don McLeod. Former Stingers Jacques Locas was
sent to the penalty box after a hooking call. But the Stingers failed to add to their lead
during the power play. After Locas served his penalty he skated right up to Norm LaPointe
with the puck, faked one way and slipped the puck into the net for the score. The Stingers
however scored shortly after when a screened shot by Ron Plumb was batted into the net
from the right side.
In the second period, team captain Rick
Dudley scored at 12:10 to put the Stingers up by four goals. Dudley got the puck from
Leduc in his own end, skated back to the Cowboys end and moved right up to goalie McLeod
to score in front. It would be Dudleys 11th goal in seven games.
In the final period the Cowboys Dave
Kryskow beat LaPointe from point blank range in less then a minute. But Rich Leduc
answered by scoring his third goal in the game for the hat trick. Leduc was standing in
front of the Calgary net when he deflected in a shot by defenseman Ron Plumb. Dennis
Sobchuk put in another Stingers goal at 14:20 when he stole the puck from the Cowboys
defenseman and moved in to score with a backhander. At 16:10 in the period Cincinnati
scored their seventh goal to take a commanding five goal lead. The goal came from Greg
Carroll from right in front. The Cowboys went on to score a meaningless goal at 18:58 when
Danny Lawson shot in from close range on LaPointe for the score.
The victory would be the Stingers
second straight victory on the road. |
