Also, if people want a clue as to why I still rank Fetisov above Lidstrom this game is a good example. There is a point in this game where he is skating backwards with the puck and he's moving faster than any Flyer could skate forwards.
I would like to see this again
What time in which part is it again?
I would like to see this again
What time in which part is it again?
I noticed that moment (Fetisov skating backwards) as well. Just incredible display of skating ability. I have never seen anyone skate backwards like that.
The 1983 game was betterAwesome. I'm definitely going to watch this.
Edit: I mistook this for the game in the 70's.
Reijo Ruotsalainen. When he played with the Rangers in beginning of his NHL career, Rangers coach/GM said "Rexi can skate backwards faster than most our forwards can skate forward." Or something like that.
Edit: now having seen it, I'm actually disappointed, it was a very short piece.
The 1983 game was better
I have rarely seen Ruotsalainen play so I cannot really compare his skating to Fetisov's. From those players that I have seen play a lot Fetisov's backwards skating is the best. And he could handle the puck and make hard accurate passes at top speed while skating backwards.
The level of play was higher in the 1983 game, at least from the Soviet's side. The 1976 game was played with a much slower tempo. And of course the 1983 game was not as dirty.No, it wasn't. Result wise for you gloryhunters, maybe.
Also missing were Viktor Shalimov and Sergei Kapustin, two veteran forwards from Spartak Moscow, who were great in previous games in this tourney but who were rested by Tikhonov in this game.One of the differences here (1982-83), of course, is that this was the full Soviet national team - though without its best forward, Sergei Makarov, who was injured.
Also missing were Viktor Shalimov and Sergei Kapustin, two veteran forwards from Spartak Moscow, who were great in previous games in this tourney but who were rested by Tikhonov in this game.
Another veteran Alexander Maltsev was injured in earlier games of the tourney and did not play against the Flyers.
Two CSKA forwards Andrei Khomutov and Nikolai Drozdetsky were also missing. They did not participate to the tourney at all. Both Khomutov and Drozdetsky were key players for the national team.
Another good player missing was Irek Gimayev, a utility player who could play both defense and forward. Gimayev was a gritty player and usually played well against North Americans.
The cooperalls worn by the Flyers defy belief if you haven't seen them.
Awesome. I'm definitely going to watch this.
Edit: I mistook this for the game in the 70's.