The Indianapolis Racers visited Cincinnati without their center Brian
McDonald and right winger Mark Lomenda. McDonald hurt his knee in the previous game
against Phoenix and was sidelined for six weeks. While Lomenda had a bruised thigh that
had him out for ten days. The Racers were sitting in last place within the Eastern
Division with the worst record in the WHA. The Racers had yet to win a road game.
|
© Courtesy of Cincinnati
Public Library. |
Barry Legge of the Stingers began to fall to
the ice as the Racers Hugh Harris moves towards the puck. |
The Stingers were the first to
get on the board after team captain Rick Dudley scored at 5:12 in the first period on a
power play. Greg Carroll scored the second Stingers goal at 16:49 when he took a shot from
in front of the Racers net. Ron Plumb took a fabulous hard shot on the Indianapolis's goal
only to have it blocked by Racers goalie Michal Dion. Dion however, made the block with
his face which threw him off his game for the remained of the matchup.
The Stingers took a three goal lead in
the second period after the LSD line attacked. Blaine Stoughton centered the puck from
behind the Racers goal and Dudley swept in, beating the Racers goalie Michel Dion with a
short shot. The Racers finally got on the board after Rene LeClerc knocked the puck past
Stingers goalie Norm LaPointe at 10:54. But the Stingers Richie Leduc answered three
minutes later after a breakaway and swift skating that pulled Dion out of position. Leduc
was able to slip the puck in for the score. The second period was riddled with penalties
and saw a fight broke out shortly before the closing of the period between Stingers John
Hughes and the Racers Rosie Paiement. Both players were sent to the penalty box for ten
minutes.
Richie Leduc scored his second goal of
the game five minutes into the final period. But Rene LeClerc of the Racers struck again
less then ten seconds later. The Stingers Blaine Stoughton fired back at 8:32 with
Cincinnati's sixth goal of the game. Stoughton scored on a breakaway which saw him carry
the puck across the goal, skating left to right and tapping the puck in for the score.
Cincinnati added one more goal to their total after Dave Inkpen scored his first of the
season at 13:32 in the period.
The Racers however did not go quietly.
Or at least Rene LeClerc. With two minutes remaining in the final period the 165 pound
center netted his third of the game to complete the hat-trick. LeClerc was responsible for
the only goals for the Racers.
With the Stingers victory and the
Nordiques loss to the Fighting Saints, Cincinnati and Quebec moved into a first place tie
in the Eastern Division.. |
