The ’76-’77 Cleveland Barons (via icehockey.wikia.com)
I am on the brink of the Third Annual Ultimate NHL Playoff and the ’76-’77 Cleveland Barons will be the representative for the extinct Cleveland franchise for the third time. They have bested the ’77-’78 Barons, again. The sweep began with a 7-5 win in Game 1 as Al MacAdam led the way with two goals and an assist. The game was tied after two periods, but two goals in the final few minutes, including an empty-netter from MacAdam sealed the win. The ’77-’78 Barons exploded for five goals in the second period of Game 2 to come back from a 3-1 deficit. However, the game was tied at six heading into the third period. The ’76-’77 Barons scored two unanswered goal in the third, though, including the hat trick goal for Dennis Maruk to win 8-6. Maruk, along with Mike Fidler, posted a three-point night for the ’77-’78 Barons in the loss. Then, in Game 3, the ’76-’77 Barons took control early and the games was over after just two periods as they led 6-2. The final was 6-4. It was Rick Hampton‘s turn to lead the ’76-’77 Barons as he scored twice and also tallied an assist in the win. The sweep was completed with a 5-3 win in Game 4. Frank Spring‘s goal a minute and a half into the third period turned out to be the series-clincher as he made it 4-2 and a Hampton PP goal nearly halfway through the period provided the icing on the cake.
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’77-’78 Barons | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 |
| ’76-’77 Barons | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | 7 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLE – 7 ’77-’78 CLE – 5 (1-0 ’76-’77 CLE)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: RW – Al MacAdam (’76-’77 CLE) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +1 5 S
2nd Star: LW – Mike Fidler (’77-’78 CLE) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +2 9 S
3rd Star: D – Greg Smith (’77-’78 CLE) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +1 6 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’77-’78 Barons | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 6 |
| ’76-’77 Barons | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 8 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLE – 8 ’77-’78 CLE – 6 (2-0 ’76-’77 CLE)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: C – Dennis Maruk (’76-’77 CLE) – 3 G 3 A 6 P +3 19 S
2nd Star: LW – Mike Fidler (’76-’77 CLE) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +4 5 S
3rd Star: RW – Frank Spring (’76-’77 CLE) – 1 G 2 A 3 P +4 4 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’76-’77 Barons | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 6 |
| ’77-’78 Barons | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLE – 6 ’77-’78 CLE – 4 (3-0 ’76-’77 CLE)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: LW – Rick Hampton (’76-’77 CLE) – 2 G 1 A 3 P +4 6 S
2nd Star: D – Mike Christie (’76-’77 CLE) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +5 4 S 2 PIM
3rd Star: RW – Al MacAdam (’76-’77 CLE) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +4 8 S
| 1st Period | 2nd Period | 3rd Period | Overtime | Total | |
| ’76-’77 Barons | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 5 |
| ’77-’78 Barons | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
GAME SUMMARY: ’76-’77 CLE – 5 ’77-’78 CLE – 3 (4-0 ’76-’77 CLE)
STARS OF THE GAME:
1st Star: G – Gilles Meloche (’76-’77 CLE) – W 3.00 GAA .941 SV% (48 SV’s)
2nd Star: RW – Al MacAdam (’76-’77 CLE) – 2 G 0 A 2 P +1 10 S
3rd Star: LW – Rick Hampton (’76-’77 CLE) – 1 G 1 A 2 P +1 7 S
Up next is the Kansas City Scouts Qualifying Tournament!
