The 1972 Summit Series
A 4 Part Series by Bruce Kish
Brought to you buy Decisive-Action Sports

SUMMIT PART 3:  FIFTY AGAINST THE WORLD

GAME 7: HOLDING ON

After six games, Team Canada and the Soviets had become accustomed to each other's playing styles. The players were now battle-hardened veterans, not readily surprised or intimidated anymore.

Harry Sinden made virtually no lineup changes. Tony Esposito, whose confidence had flagged after the humiliating defeat in Game 5, was put in goal. Minnesota North Star Bill Goldsworthy went in Red Berenson.

The Soviets, on the other hand, reconsidered their strategy and put back their veterans into the lineup. Defensemen Alexander Gusev and Victor Kuzkin returned to the blue line. The "Kid Line" with the exception of Vyacheslav Anisin was benched. Kharlamov was scratched on account of his fractured ankle and replaced by Evgeny Mishakov, an enforcer.

As Canadian fans entered the arena, they found the rink completely surrounded by Soviet troops, ready to respond to any perceived trouble. The Russians were still playing mind games.

Two minutes into the first period, Boris Mikhailov was called off for tripping at the two-minute mark. Team Canada, which had gone a measly 1-for-15 on the man advantage throughout the series, failed to convert on number 16. But just after the penalty expired, Ellis tracked down a wide pass from Henderson into the right corner. He centered it to Esposito in the slot. With his back to the net, Esposito pivoted to one side and simultaneously fired the puck between Tretiak's pads.

The lead was short-lived. A little over the 10-minute mark, Esposito lost a face-off in the offensive zone to Vladimir Shadrin. Alexander Yakushev faked and blew past Park and Bergman. Crossing the Canadian blue line, he fired a slap shot on Tony Esposito that was so hard it knocked the goalie over backward.  Tie score.

As the period dragged on, the mood of the players turned hostile. Esposito was whistled for cross-checking Mihailov. The Canadian tried goading his opponent into a brawl, but the Russian waved him off. Angered, Esposito drew Mikhailovs' attention, then made two hand gestures, the cut-throat, followed by two upraised fists. The Russian ignored him and skated past the Canadian bench, making the "you're crazy" gesture, to John Ferguson, circling a finger around the side of his head.

The penalties continued to mount and neither team could get a clear advantage.  At 16:27, the Soviets took the lead on a power play goal. Tony Esposito moved out to meet the streaking Vladimir Petrov and missed on a poke check. He lunged to far and fell.  Petrov managed to keep control, steered the puck around the goalie and dodged the flying Ellis who had thrown his body in an attempt to stop the breakaway, then backhanded into the open net.

Team Canada struck back a little over a minute later. The line of Esposito-Cournoyer-Parise managed to keep the Soviets bottled up in their own end. From the face-off, Esposito drew the puck back to Parise, who passed lateral to Savard. The defenseman faked a slap shot, faked around a charging player and fired on net. Esposito managed to get his blade on the puck and deflect it past Tretiak to tie the score.

In the second period, the Soviets redoubled their efforts, but failed to score. At one point, Vladimir Vikulov had an open net on a breakaway, but put the puck over the crossbar. Despite being outplayed, it became obvious that if the Canadians could withstand the pressure now, they would have the advantage in the later stages of the game when the Russians had worn out.  Tempers continued to flare, and broadcaster Foster Hewitt observed that, "It wouldn't take much to cause a real donnybrook in this game," in his under-stated fashion.

Two minutes into the third period, the Canadians struck again. The Rangers' G-A-G Line, with Dennis Hull on left wing, pressured the Soviet defensemen into turnovers. Rod Gilbert lunged and managed to intercept a clearing pass.  He fed Ratelle, but the forward was checked before getting the shot off. The puck bounced out to the corner, but the Soviets committed the same error twice, attempting another blind clearing pass. This one, behind the net, was picked off again by Gilbert, who stuffed the puck past Tretiak on a wraparound.

The Canadians had little time to enjoy their lead. Three minutes later, the Russians were on another power play. Alexander Maltsev threaded a pass across the mouth of the Canadian goal to an awaiting Yakushev at the left post who hammered it top-shelf.

As time dwindled in the third period, the Russians were becoming frustrated because they hadn't put their pesky opponents away. With three and a half minutes remaining, the biggest brawl of the series erupted.

Bergman trapped the puck against the boards behind the Canadian net and the play was whistled down, but Mikhailov blind-sided Bergman and wrestled him into a headlock. The Canadian worked himself free and counterattacked with flying fists. Surprised by attack, Mikhailov kicked Bergman with his skate, nearly cutting him to pieces. It was enough to get even Cournoyer, the most peaceable player, to enter the fight.  He charged the embattled Mikhailov and connected several roundhouse punches to the head.

Yakushev came to the rescue, grabbing Cournoyer, whereupon Phil Esposito grabbed Yakushev. Seconds later, all the Soviet and Canadian players were paired off like dancing couples, clutching each other as an uneasy peace was restored.

Both Mikhailov and Bergman, whose leg was ripped and bleeding, received five-minute majors each for roughing. The brawl seemed to sap the Russians' remaining strength.

With two minutes remaining, defenseman Guy Lapointe passed to his partner Savard, who found Paul Henderson with a head-man pass. Henderson skated 1-on-2 against defenders Valery Vasiliev and Gennady Tsygankov. Instead of cutting down the middle, the Canadian slipped the puck between the two Russians, skated around Tsygankov to the left, and picked up the puck behind them.

Vasiliev was beaten and knew there was no legal way to stop Henderson. He turn and grabbed the Canadian forward from behind. As Henderson felt his skates coming out from under him, he eyed a narrow open space in goal and fired. The puck rose and floated into the net between Tretiak's right elbow and the crossbar.  At 17:54, Henderson had scored to put Canada ahead 4-3.

In the closing seconds, the Soviets peppered the Canadian net in one last desperate rush, but Esposito held his ground, making four key saves. The final horn found the Canadian players and their fans celebrating.

Bitter in defeat, the Soviet authorities attempted to provoke an international incident. The 3,000 Canadian fans stepped out into a swirling snowstorm and headed for the busses back to the hotel. Blocking their way was a company of Soviet infantry, standing in ranks at parade rest with rifles. The fixed bayonets flashed in the moonlight. The troops had been dispatched to the scene because a Soviet official had not enjoyed the Canadians' post-game celebration and reported that the foreigners had started a riot.  The fans' laughter and noisy chatter suddenly stopped when they saw the spectacle. Cautiously, they approached the soldiers and stared inquisitively into the stolid faces.

Suddenly, a voice was heard shouting in Russian. Looking down, everyone saw a legless man, strapped to a contraption resembling a skateboard, paddling forward with his hands between the two sides. He was veteran of the Great Patriotic War, and the left breast of his winter coat was covered with medals.

Approaching the commanding officer, the old veteran waved his fist and yelled angrily. The officer was startled and tried explaining what was happening, pointing at the fans. Not satisfied with the response, the man shouted again at the officer. He turned toward the Canadians.  His weathered face had an expression of shame.

"I am sorry," he said in English to the nearest group of Canadians, then paddled away. Touched, the Canadian fans cheered the veteran as he disappeared into the night. The Soviet officer put his troops at ease and let the Canadians pass.

Team Canada could rightfully enjoy its victory on a number of levels. Not only had they outplayed a talented Soviet team, but they had also withstood the political gamesmanship that the Russian officials used in an attempt to throw them off their game.

Vladislav Tretiak put the stunned Soviet reaction into perspective: "We knew that in Moscow, in our own rink, we could not lose. This was our fatal mistake."

Team Canada had fought back to tie the series at 3-3-1. The next game would determine the outcome.  

1972 Summit Series
A 4 Part Series by Bruce Kish