Standings

Hartford Civic Center

3rd

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The Stingers lost out on an opportunity to score during a Cincinnati power play less then half way through the first period. Shortly after both teams were at even strength, the Whalers Hanglesben made an easy shot past Stingers goalkeeper Norm LaPointe. Dave Inkpen shortly after was called for high sticking which set up the Whalers follow up goal by forward George Lyle. Lyles slapped a shot from the blue line which sailed by Stingers goalie Norm LaPointe. The Stingers finally answered at 12:00 in the first period after Billy Steele picked off a deflected shot by teammate Ron Plumb. Steele then shot and dumped the puck past the Whalers goaltender Christer Abrahamsson from the left circle.

In the second period, the Whalers would score two straight goals to put the club up by three goals. Both Whalers goals came from the stick of left winger Danny Arndt. The Stingers managed another goal by Dennis Sobchuk at 13:54 and followed with a late period goal by Blaine Stoughton. Stoughton and his "LSD" line teammates, Rick Dudley and Richie Leduc moved the puck into the Whalers zone. Dudley made a nice pass to Stoughton directly in front of the Whalers net. Stoughton then knocked a backhanded shot past Abrahamsson for the score.

The Stingers entered the third period down by one goal but less then five minutes into the period, the Whalers center Ralph Backstrom scored on a breakaway to put the club up by two goals. Cincinnati who was playing catch up during the entire game saw Stoughton and Dudley both missed scoring opportunities. Both missing shots from close range. On one occasion, Dudley shot on an open goal but the puck flew over the Whalers net. However, Cincinnati finally managed to score when Barry Legge netted a goal at 8:03 in the final period. As the third period was coming to an end, Stingers head coach Terry Slater pulled goalie Norm LaPointe twice to give Cincinnati a sixth man in hopes of scoring and sending the game into overtime. Regrettably the effort failed. Despite the Stingers out shooting the Whalers 18 to 8 in the final period..

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FIRST PERIOD

GOALS - NE: Hanglesben (D. Roberts, G. Roberts) 9:08. NE: Lyle (G. Roberts, Webster) 10:16. CIN: Steele (Locas, Plumb) 12:00.

PENALTIES - NE: Hangsleben (holding) 7:02. CIN: INkpen (high sticking) 9:24. NE: Pleau (interference) 16:20.

SECOND PERIOD

GOALS - NE:Arndf (Webster, T. Abrahamson) 12:32. NE Arndf (Bolduc, Backstrom) 12:34. CIN: D. Sobchuk (Steele) 13:54. CIN: Stoughton (Dudley, Ouimet) 19:47.

PENALTIES - NE: Ley (tripping) 6:27. CIN: Inkpen (interference) 11:53. CIN: Stoughton (hooking) 13:39. NE: Lyle (spearing) 15:46.

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THIRD PERIOD

GOALS - NE: Backstrom (Busniuk, G. Roberts) 4:40. CIN: Legge (Dudley, Stoughton) 8:03.

PENALTIES - None.

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SHOTS ON GOAL

GOALTENDERS - CIN: LaPointe NE: C. Abrahamsson.

ATTENDANCE - ?

REFEREE - ?

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1976-77 WHA Standings

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