Canadiens1958
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Interesting Comments
Kulagin's comment about the smaller Buffalo ice surface is very revealing as well as the comparison to the Montreal Canadiens being limited on the smaller Buffalo ice surface. Those who scoffed at the impact of the smaller rinks in Boston, Buffalo, Chicago and the impact on performance please take note.
That the Soviets scouted the opposition is also interesting. An advantage from a favourable schedule which allowed them to be on site as opposed to relying on advance scouting while playing elsewhere.
Finally, the Soviets always had problems playing against Gilbert Perreault. Size of the rink did not matter. One of the mistakes from 1972 was not giving Perreault more ice time.
1976, Jan.4: Buffalo Sabres - Krylja Sovetov 12-6
Canadian Press: "The Buffalo victory was an unexpected break in the pattern of the current Soviet-National Hockey League series... Sabres general manager Punch Imlach had said before the game he was worried about his defence which was largely responsible for the team's record of only four wins and four ties in their last 15 games... Korab caught Yakushev with a couple of good checks early in the game. 'After that you didn't see him doing much', [Floyd] Smith said of the big Russian winger."
Jim Coleman, Calgary Herald: "Jerry Korab dismantled huge Aleksandr Yakushev with a board-check which rocked the foundations of the Memorial auditorium. While the Russians were pondering rude treatment of their great-winger, the Sabres took a three-goal lead in the first 11 minutes and 32 seconds. Overwhelmed by his early success, Korab took a rather stupid penalty for charging the same Yakushev...and the Wings managed to score their first goal just as Korab was ready to return to the ice. However, the Sabres forechecking confused the Soviets so completely that, really, the issue was beyond doubt by the time that Buffalo had established a remarkable 9-4 lead at the end of the first period... Kulagin pointed out, with considerable justice, that the Wings were baffled by Buffalo Auditorium's very small centre ice area. He said that long-striding players such as Yakushev couldn't get loose in the small centre ice area. Kulagin certainly had a point: The Montreal Canadiens, who love to free wheel like the Russians, never play one of their really top-form games in the Buffalo Auditorium."
Doug Gilbert, Montreal Gazette: "It is interesting that the two games the Soviet referees handled resulted in Russian wins and the two games with NHL officials in charge saw the home side with a big advantage in the play. This is not to suggest that the striped shirts did anything untoward, but it shows the different interpretation of the rules by the two countries. For instance, it is more than possible a European referee would have nailed the Buffalo Sabres for the force they used taking Alexander Yakushev into the boards in the first period. In that case, and don't forget boarding is a strict judgement call, Buffalo might have had to back off on its agressive hitting. It could have become a completely different game."
Dink Carroll, Montreal Gazette: "Canadian hockey fans were delighted at the ease with which the Sabres disposed of the Wings and this is no attempt to belittle their accomplishment. They worked hard and deserved to win. It is an attempt to point out that every game between an NHL team and one of the top Soviet teams is not necessarily a classic. The purists must have shuddered at some of the things they saw in that game..."
Boris Kulagin, Krylja coach: "We have never been so humiliated. Most goals ever scored against us in international competition before was nine. This, I have never seen before." On Rick Martin and Gilbert Perreault: "In my opinion they are the best players I have ever seen in my life in professional hockey." Quoted by the Canadian Press: "Kulagin said the Sabres deserved the win. They were a much better team than they appeared to be in their loss to Los Angeles last thursday. After watching the game against Los Angeles, the Wings became overconfident about their Buffalo opponent, said the Russian coach."
Floyd Smith, Sabres coach: "I thought the difference was in our skating. When there was a race Martin and Perreault could pull away from them."
Rick Martin, forward: "I'm glad that we're the first team to beat them. We've proven that we can beat them and let's just hope that they give us credit for showing that they can be beaten... It was worth all the hard work we did this week. It's also a matter of pride. We are the National Hockey League and we're supposed to be the best in the world."
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search (P.33)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
The Deseret News - Google News Archive Search
The Bryan Times - Google News Archive Search
The Calgary Herald - Google News Archive Search
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
Kulagin's comment about the smaller Buffalo ice surface is very revealing as well as the comparison to the Montreal Canadiens being limited on the smaller Buffalo ice surface. Those who scoffed at the impact of the smaller rinks in Boston, Buffalo, Chicago and the impact on performance please take note.
That the Soviets scouted the opposition is also interesting. An advantage from a favourable schedule which allowed them to be on site as opposed to relying on advance scouting while playing elsewhere.
Finally, the Soviets always had problems playing against Gilbert Perreault. Size of the rink did not matter. One of the mistakes from 1972 was not giving Perreault more ice time.
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