Cincinnati entered the San Diego Sports Arena on a three game winning
streak and in second place within their division. However, the Stingers thus far in the
season had not faired to well on the road and would be playing the hottest club in the WHA
at that time. Cincinnati was also playing without team captain Rick Dudley who was out
with the flu.
Cincinnati took an early lead at 6:00
in the first period after a goal by Claude Larose. Teammate Blaine Stoughton set the
shot up after giving the puck to Ron Plumb who then took a shot on the Mariners goal only
to have it rejected by San Diego's Ernie Wakely. However, Wakely couldn't maintain control
of the puck and Larose managed to tap it in for the score. It would be his 16th goal of
the season. Late in the first period Cincinnati failed to clear the puck from their end
and the Mariners Brent Hughes intercepted it. Hughes knocked the puck down with his glove
at the blue line, then promptly took a shot from just inside the line. The puck sailed
passed LaPointe for the score.
The Mariners took the lead after a goal
by Tony Cassolato at 3:45. Cassolato took the shot and the puck hit the goal post and
appeared as if it didn't go in. Play on the ice continued but referee Ron Ego stopped the
action and consulted with the goal judge then ruled that the puck crossed the line for a
goal. The questionable goal seemed to line a fire under the Stingers and the team went on
to score four straight goals in the period.
Jamie Hislop scored at 4:48 in the
period. The goal was et up when teammate Dennis Sobchuk passed the puck to Peter Marsh.
Marsh then deflected the puck to Hislop who was in the slot and then Hislop tapped it in
for the score. Greg Carroll scored the next goal after deflecting the puck off of the
boards and slipped it into an open net as Wakely was out on a play. Dennis Sobchuk scored
the third goal of the period and his 21st of the season at 14:51. He scored on a rebound
after a shot that was taken by Jamie Hislop. Sobby lifted the puck high in order to fool
the Mariners goalie for the score.
The Mariners pulled goalie Ernie Wakely
in exchange for Ken Lockett for the third period, but Cincinnati continued to dominate the
San Diego Mariners. The Stingers pulled ahead by four goals after Greg Carroll scored his
second goal of the game at 1:32 in the period. Carroll snagged the puck off the boards
while the Mariners were involved in a line change. Carroll then slapped a shot past
Lockett for the score. Richie Leduc followed with another goal shortly before the
mid-period change. Leduc was sitting in front of the Mariners net and received a pass from
teammate Dennis Abgrall. The Stingers added one more goal for good measure after a
backhanded shot from Dennis Sobchuk. |
