Buffalo Rolls Over Soviet Wings 12-6 at Memorial Auditorium 48 years ago today
The Soviet Wings and Red Army clubs were part of the Super Series against eight NHL clubs in December 1975 and January 1976. The Red Army tied the eventual Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens 3-3 on New Year’s Eve and their only loss came against the 1975 Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers (aka the Broad Street Bullies).
The Wings beat Pittsburgh, Chicago, and the NY Islanders, but got thrashed by the Cup runner-up Sabres 12-6.
Written for the Hockey News by Ralph Bridgland on January 16, 1976
If the remaining four National Hockey League clubs meeting the Russians can pick up the momentum provided by the Montreal Canadians and the Buffalo Sabres, we may find the proven best hockey league in the world right under our noses.
The fact that NHL clubs have gone two games without a defeat to the touring Russian teams has restored sagging NHL pride and lifted the North Americans back into contention in Super Series ‘76.
On the final evening of 1975, the Canadiens and the Russian Central Red Army battled to a 3-3 sawoff in game three. To say the final score was indicative of the play would be like terming the Sabres’ 12-6 win over the Soviet Wings in game four as a close-checking affair.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkX4ue_PKpw[/embed]
While the Canadiens dented the Soviets’ game plan the Sabres destroyed it with a bazooka-like attack.
Buffalo had been suspect before the encounter with the Wings since the club was coming off several performances in previous weeks which could be lightly described as unimpressive. But the Sabres quickly turned doubters into believers as they launched an offense that left the Soviets visibly rattled. Why the Sabres could even afford to exhibit some goodwill and score on their own net (Jocelyn Guevremont did just that in the second period) and still come up undisputed winners.
While Buffalo did tally 12 goals the goaltending they encountered was a far cry from what Montreal shooters faced four days prior. In fact, the Russians even made a pair of unheard-of goaling changes but to no avail.
Rick Martin, who led the Sabres’ attack with a pair of goals and three assists, credited the win to his club having more heart.
“They (the Soviets) learn to skate, they take aptitude tests, they learn how to play like machines. Then at 18, they say ‘Let’s put a heart in you.’ But that’s something you’re born with.”
“I thought the difference was in our skating,” stated Buffalo coach Floyd Smith. “When there was a race. Martin and (Gil) Perreault could pull away from them.”
Wings’ mentor Boris Kulagin thought the game his players viewed between the Sabres and Los Angeles Kings, which Buffalo lost 9-6, had an adverse effect on his club.
“When our guys watched the Sabres play that night our players thought that it was an easy team to beat and they were mistaken.”
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