| QUEBEC CITY
- Jacques Demers has a philosophy about road games. He assumes his team has one point when
the game starts and goes from there. "On the road, you assume you have one point when
the game begins because it's a 0-0 tie" he explained as the Stingers prepared to meet
the WHA champion Nordiques here tonight. "If you win you have two points and if you
lose the game you've lost that one point you had the tie." The Stingers, 1-2 so far with all three of those games played on home ice,
have had a less than respectable record on the road the last two years. Demers isn't
looking for miracles. He just wants a team that can hold its own. "I want a team that
is respectable on the road and is feared on home ice," he said. "I'm not worried
about the shaky start. I've had bad starts the last two years in Indy and still made the
playoffs."
Cincinnati hasn't been successful playing in the Colisee here and
Demers understands the problem. "Quebec is always tough at home," he said.
"They have a very physical team and in the past they've always tried to push the
Stingers right out of the building. I imagine that's what they'll try to do again."
The Stingers of course, have some added muscle this year and Demers feels his squad will
not be pushed around. Then too, there's the new system. "We keep talking about the
system, but it's going to work," said Demers. "You can beat Quebec or any other
team (unreadable) play the system and play together."
The Stingers routed New England, 6-2 Sunday night and Demers was
asked if he would use the same strategy against the Nordiques. "Definitely. That's
the way to play them," he answered. "You play them super tight with a lot of
checking. You don't let them get the easy shot." Rookie Mike Liut, who was so
impressive against the Whalers Sunday, will start in goal tonight against the Nordiques.
Actually, Demers had planned to save Liut for this game but went with him early after
veteran Ernie Wakely fell upon bad times in the first two contests.
When the Stingers arrived at their hotel here they were greeted in
the lobby by head scout Flo Potvin and former Indianapolis Racers goalie Michel Dion. Dion
reportedly has agreed to terms with Cincinnati and will sign a contract today. Dion who
was unable to come to (unreadable) Indianapolis management and became a free
agent, probably will go to the minors until Demers makes a decision on just which
goaltenders he's got to us. |
