ODH

Was that when the Soviets crushed the US team something like 13-2 in a game that didn't matter?

Big

No. I am talking about the Challenge Cup when Soviets beat NHL-All stars 2 games to 1.

ODH

No one is debating the Soviets had the best team in the world at the time. I know throughout the 70's NHL All Star teams and the Soviets traded wins, by 1979 NHL All Stars were probably happy to get one win.

arm-spin

The history between Soviet all-stars and NHL all stars to the best of my recollection and Wikipedia's help:

1972: Canada-Soviet Summit Series. Most famous event in Canadian sports history. Canada wins 4 games to 3 with one tie, scores the winning goal in game 8 with about 30 seconds left.

1979- Challenge Cup (thanks Big): Soviets win 2 games to 1. There were also several exhibition games in this era between Soviets and NHL teams, both sides won some games.

Canada Cups (international tournament pitting the top 6 countries together):

1976- Canada 1st over Czechs, USSR was missing some top players.
1981- Soviets beat Canada in the Finals
1984- Canada beat Soviets in the semifinals in OT, wins over sweden
1987- Canda beat Sovietrs in 4 games in final: 6-5OT Soviets, 6-5OT Canada, 6-5 Canada.
1991- Canada wins, Soviers (missing many to players) don't do well.

In the NHL era, where Russian stars played in the NHL, world cup results:
1996: US beats Canada in finals, Russia loses in semis
2004: Canada wins, Russia dues poorly.

Olympics allowing NHL players to compete:
1998: Russia 2nd to Czechs, Canada 4th.
2002: Canada 1, United States 2, Russia 3 (lost to US)
2006: Sweden wins, Russa eliminates Canada but both fail to medal.

akzent

Today I read an interesting article about Soviet hockey written last year by the Finnish historician Markku Jokisipilä who is also a hockey player (as almost everyone in Finland is). Its title is "Revenge in 1969 [Czechoslowakia vs USSR], Miracle in 1980 [USA v. USSR] in 1980. The Two Most Politically Charged Maches of Cold War Ice Hockey". It says so much about Russians=Soviets! I scanned it and I would like to attach it here (at least Big must get some more education) but it is more than 5 MB. , so it is impossible.
If somebody is interested, I can send it per email.

arm-spin

The 72 series is up there too, at least for Canadians. Pretty epic- and brutally violent- series with lots of political stuff.

jpv

With those "Soviet vs. NHL Stars" games it's really hard to judge.
On one hand, the Soviets did win most games.
On the other, they were a team that practically lived together and practiced together, under the same system, for years.

ODH

Soviets also play a different style of Hockey, they played like a team, their passing & skating was incredible. They were about setting up an offense patiently passing until they had great shot. The NHL was more of a brawling & capitilizing on break aways and taking lots of shots.
Anyways, that is the I remember it as I was pretty young at the time.