1979 Challenge Cup Game 1 Goals - NHL vs USSR

The Challenge Cup series replaced the usual NHL all-star game in 1979. All games were played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was the first one on February 8, 1979. Team NHL was represented by Canadians and three Swedes.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Hockey
• Canada
• NHL
• USSR
• Soviet
• Канада
• НХЛ
• СССР
• Хоккей

[9davlkol]

The nhl from what i saw played great in game 1. Then they lose in game 2 and then got murdered in game 3. Did they give up or did the Soviets just finally play as great as they could have. I guess I've always wondered that. I hope this question made sense. If anyones got an opinion on this I'd love to hear it.

[unnamed00]

Yes the Soviets got better with each game, while the NHLers seemed to be tiring out.

[Audioquest56]

Mostly Montreal Canadiens on team NHL with a select few Islanders, Flyers, Leafs. Still, what an amazing group of players. Had they had enough time to play and practice with each other, I'm sure the NHL would have won this. Little did the Soviets realize that in less than one year, they would endure the ultimate embarrassment losing in the Olympics to a group of American college hockey players.

[unnamed00]

They said they had enough practice and that this was not a problem since many were teammates.

[BramOtown]

basically canada against russia

[clay70]

Not only was Bossy the master goal scorer, but like Gretzky he was deadly on passes from behind the net..

[alexkvaskov]

@BBQFanNo1 And that is related to my comment.. how?

[BBQFanNo1]

@alexkvaskov The Russians picked up a big paycheck for coming to North America. No one in the United States and Canada was holding a gun against their Red Army scum commie bastard heads forcing them to stay on the ice to finish the game against the Philadelphia Flyers in 1976,Lol.

[pastorfergus]

@keisari1 Certainly, the larger smaller rink fits well with Canada's physical style of play, but I think you're overstating its impact on Canada's international results. The Salt Lake City rink was actually Olympic sized, not NHL sized. In Nagano, the Canadian team didn't lose a game until it lost in the semifinals in a shoot-out. And of course, in 1972, Canada won the last 3 of the 4 games in Russia on the big surface.

[H222009]

that vladislav tretiak is amazing

[znogypogy]

that diving goal by lafleur is one of the best ive ever seen, suprised its the first time ive ever seen it

[Soundgarder]

@Audioquest56: Would, would, would...

[danynumero6]

@unnamed00 They said it best in the movie Miracle. The NHL All-Stars played as individuals. The Soviets played as a team.

[spxmet]

3:13 Trying to work around Datsyuk? ... Sounds like it!

[robertsteven]

I'm Canadian, and I've heard that excuse for years that Canada didn't have enough time to practise. Everytime Canada loses, which was often, it's always "we didn't have enough time to practise". You know, the Russians probably didn't practise that much either. They had to play with their club teams in Russia during the season, so it's not like the Russians could practise 24/7. Also, the Canadians had the added advantage of having Canadian bias referees and playing at home.