jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (09/14/84)
SWEDEN 9, USA 2. Unfortunately I got my dates mixed up and I missed
this game, but I was very surprised to hear the result. I knew Sweden
had improved since their earlier loss to the USA, but the U.S. seemed
to be the tournament's most consistent and solid team, so I figured they
would win this one. Tom Barrasso, whose goaltending was excellent in
the round-robin portion of the tournament, apparently had a bad night
because Sweden was ahead 4-0 after only 12 minutes, and he was replaced
after the first intermission (which came at about 17:00 of the first period
because of glass problems) by Glenn (Chico) Resch. I've been told that
despite the score, the play was fairly even, but Sweden scored on their
chances while the U.S. missed on most of theirs.
CANADA 3, USSR 2. This game is what hockey's all about. It may have been
the best game I've ever seen. It certainly ranks right up there with the
last two games of the 1972 series in Moscow and the New Year's Eve 1975
game in Montreal, and you have to rate this year's game as better than the
1975 game because the latter was a tie but didn't have overtime. Anyway,
I think you get the picture. What follows is a pretty detailed description
for the benefit of those who were not fortunate enough to see it:
In the first period, the shots on goal were even but I think Canada had a
slight edge in play. They were denied the chance for more shots and good
scoring opportunities by the Soviets defensive style of having both
defensemen stationed close to the front of the net and not allowing anybody
to get close to goalie Vladimir Myshkin. The period ended scoreless.
In the second period they either abandoned this approach or the Canadians
broke it down, plus the Soviets were unable to advance the puck to Canada's
end because Canada kept controlling the puck and getting on top of the
Soviets every time they got it. The result was that Canada dominated the
period and got several excellent scoring opportunities, but their continuing
problem of not being able to put the puck in the net, which was helped by
Myshkin's great goaltending, limited Canada to a power-play goal by John
Tonelli -- 1-0 after two. Canada relaxed the pressure a little in the
third, feeling that it was more important to keep the Soviets from scoring.
This allowed the Soviets to move the puck, and Larry Robinson was forced
to take a penalty when a Soviet split the defence. On the ensuing power-
play, Smetlov took the puck, went around the defence, and put it behind
Peeters near the five minute mark. About two minutes later, Sergei Makarov
put a great move on Larry Robinson, and gave the USSR the lead for the first
time. Canada returned to the attack, but the Soviets kept them from getting
good chances using a different method from that which worked in the first
period: They got on the Canadians and took the puck away as soon as they
crossed the blue line. Rather than be frustrated, the Canadians kept
pressing harder and eventually they got through and got some good chances,
and Doug Wilson tied the score with about four minutes left. Later in
the period, Coffey had a great chance to win it, but Myshkin stopped his
shot and a defenseman stopped the rebound. The overtime was extremely
entertaining. The Soviets had a few scoring chances but in general, Canada
was very successful at playing the type of defence that the Soviets used
in the third period. Canada had several chances but they couldn't convert
them into goals. Late in the overtime period, the puck was in Canada's end
and John Tonelli had two Soviets tied up on the boards, which allowed
Canada to get the puck into the Soviets' end and put on the pressure. Doug
Wilson zoomed in from the point to go after a loose puck but the Soviets
got there first and started off on a two-on-one with only Coffey and Peeters
to beat. As they got closer to Peeters and Coffey backed up with them, I
thought they were going to end it but suddenly, Coffey intercepted the pass
and carried the puck into the Soviet zone. With the pressure on, Tonelli
had two Soviets tied up (again!) behind the net while the puck came loose
and ended up at the right boards. Tonelli headed straight for the puck,
knocking the Soviet that was immediately behind it out of the way as if he
wasn't even there, and passed it back to Coffey at the point. Coffey fired a
waste-high shot that was just a little bit wide of the net, but Bossy got
his stick on it and deflected it into the net. Tonelli was selected player
of the game, deservedly so, and Makarov was picked as the Soviets' top
player, but I thought Myshkin was much more deserving. No matter who wins
a game like this, I always feel a little disappointed that it isn't a longer
series, and I'll have to wait a long time before these two teams play each
other again, and even then it won't be the same two teams. I'll find it
very difficult to get excited about the Toronto Maple Leafs when October
rolls around. Maybe I'll wait for the NHL playoffs, but it's been a very
long time since even the NHL playoffs supplied anywhere near as much
excitement as last night's game.
THE UPCOMING SERIES: SWEDEN VS. CANADA. Sweden is definitely a force to be
reckoned with, but even though they beat Canada in their first meeting, and
lost by only one goal to the Soviets, I still don't think they're in the
same class as Canada, now that Canada is playing well. However, after such
a physically and emotionally draining game, I wouldn't be surprised if
Canada had trouble getting up for this series. I think Sweden will probably
win one game, most likely the first, but that will smarten up Canada and
they'll win the series.
--
Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073
{linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsrgv!dciem!jeff
{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeff