The Stingers played the visiting San Diego Mariners in front of a record
home crowd of 13,660. And the thousands of fans that turned up were not disappointed.
Cincinnati managed to keep the puck in the Mariners zone through out most of the opening
period. The Stingers Rich Leduc bagged the first Cincinnati goal of the game. The play was
set up when teammate Claude Larose flipped the puck to Leduc who was positioned directly
in front of the Mariners net. Leduc then tapped it past Mariners goalie Ken Lockett.
Despite Cincinnati having more opportunities to score, the puck was just not falling their
way. And after an unusually sloppy pass by Barry Legge in their zone the Mariners
intercepted it. San Diego's Larry Hornung came up with the puck and tapped it past
LaPointe who was off to one side of the net.
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© Courtesy of Cincinnati
Public Library. |
San Diego Mariners Kevin Morrison battles
Stingers Blaine Stoughton for a loose puck in front of a record crowd of
13,660. |
During the second period, neither
teams scored. The Mariners downshifted into defense in hopes of the Stingers making
another mistake but it never happened. Cincinnati had two scoring opportunities but again
could not cash in. Earlier in the period a pile up in front of San Diego's net appeared to
be a grand opportunity for Cincinnati after brilliant Stingers shot was blocked by
Lockett. Shortly there after, Rich Leduc had the puck on the left side with an
opened Mariners net, but couldn't capitalize.
Stingers team captain Rick Dudley
finally ended the deadlock between the two clubs with a goal at 3:58 in the final period.
Defenseman Ron Plumb took a hard shot from outside the left circle to Dudley who was
waiting in front of the Mariners net. Dudley who was tangled up with a Mariners defenseman
simply poked the puck past Lockett for the game winning goal. The referees had to review
the play on television in the press box in order to give adequate credit to the scorer.
The win would be the Stingers second straight victory after coming off of a dreadful seven
game losing streak.
Referee Peter Moffat was injuried
during the final period of the game and had to be helped off the ice. Moffatt suffered a
mild concussion and was sent to Christ Hospital for his injuries. |
