Hi everyone! I’m currently reading a new book from John Robertson and Carl Madden called Cold War on Ice. It’s a fascinating look at Super Series ’76, as well as the Canada-Soviet Union battles that preceded the first in-season NHL-Soviet Union games. I’m only half-way through it but I’m really enjoying it so far, and I’ve learned a lot of interesting tidbits about the Canada/North America vs Soviet Union feud that preceded the ’76 series. I didn’t know much about the first Super Series except the famous Montreal-Red Army game from New Year’s Eve 1975 (Todd Denault’s book, The Greatest Game, is a phenomenal read), and the final game of the series when the Philadelphia Flyers bullied their way past the same Red Army team. The other six games, especially those played by the Soviet Wings, were a complete mystery to me. Even more of a mystery was why a middling team like the Pittsburgh Penguins were chosen to represent the NHL in the second game of the series. The contest was an unmitigated disaster for the Penguins and the NHL. The Wings built up a commanding first period lead and won the game 7-4. The Penguins looked completely different than two weeks earlier when they took on the Seals in Oakland.

On December 17 the Penguins ran roughshod over the Seals ringing up a huge lead in the opening twenty minutes and cruising to an impressive 9-2 victory. It was arguably the Seals’ worst outing of the entire season, a game that coach Jack Evans called “an embarrassment”. The Penguins, on the other hand, looked great after having shown very little pep all season long. Before the season was over coach Marc Boileau would be out of a job. This game was one of his last hurrahs in the NHL. You can all about the Seals’ awful night in this San Francisco Examiner article right here.

Until next time, stay gold!