CLEVELAND (AP) – “A loss like this will make us realize we have to work,” said New England coach Jack Kelley after the Cleveland Crusaders came from two goals behind to win 7-5.

It was the only pro hockey game played Monday night.

The Crusaders started out on top and held a 3-1 lead after the first period. Then the Whalers went to work and racked up goals by Terry Caffery, Brad Selwood and Mike Byers to go ahead in the second period.

Caffery's second goal made it 5-3 early in the third period.

BUT Rich Pumple then scored a fluke goal which both coaches said “turned it around” for Cleveland. Pumple simply outraced a New England defenseman to grab the puck near the Whalers' cage and slammed it past goalie Al Smith. “They were starting to hang their heads at the time,” said Kelley.

Another goal by Cleveland's Gary Jarrett less than three minutes later tied the score and Skip Krake scored on a 25-footer with less than two minutes to play to put the Cleveland Crusaders ahead.

Jim Wiste added a final score, firing a shot into the open net with four seconds to go after the Whalers had pulled Smith to put another forward on the ice. Wiste along with Ron Buchanan and

Grant Erickson had scored in the first period.

“THIS has to do everything for the guys' spirits,” said Cleveland coach Bill Needham. “Now, they feel as though they can go out there and win.”

The Whalers had beaten Cleveland in Boston 1-0 in overtime and 5-4 two days later earlier this month to ignite a Crusader slump that saw the Whalers clinch first place in the WHA Eastern Division. Cleveland had to settle for second after being first most of the season.

The Crusaders are now 40-32-3 this year.

Both teams enter the playoffs when the regular season ends Sunday.