The Globe and Mail
"We're not taking anything for granted," said team captain Larry Robinson, whose stellar play from the blueline has been a cornerstone of the NHL's success. "This is their building, their crowd. We know they'll throw everything at us."
Robinson, the 28-year-old Montreal Canadiens defenseman, has been nothing short of spectacular in the series, recording 4 goals and 4 assists in five games while maintaining his trademark steady presence in his own zone.
The Soviet Union, led by the crafty Viktor Zhluktov, will be playing with their backs against the wall in front of an expected crowd of 14,000 rabid supporters. Zhluktov, the 27-year-old center, has been the offensive catalyst for the Soviets with 5 goals and 2 assists through five contests.
The Soviets have shown their resilience before in this series, capturing dramatic overtime victories in Games 1 and 3 by identical 5-4 scores. Both contests saw the Russians rally from deficits to force extra time before claiming crucial victories.
"Hockey is our national sport," said Zhluktov through an interpreter. "We will not disappoint our people. This is not finished."
Between the pipes, the story has been one of contrasting styles and fortunes. Ken Dryden, the cerebral Montreal netminder, has posted a 3-0 record with one overtime victories despite a below average .883 save percentage. Dryden saved one his best performances for Game 5 as he led the All-Stars to a 4-3 overtime victory at madison Square Garden.
| Player | G | A | Pts |
| NHL ALL-STARS | |||
| L. Robinson (MTL) | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| D. Potvin (NYI) | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| B. Salming (TOR) | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| SOVIET UNION | |||
| V. Zhluktov | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| V. Kharmalov | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| V. Petrov | 3 | 2 | 5 |
The Soviets will counter with Vladislav Tretiak, the legendary goaltender who has been the backbone of their international success for over a decade. Despite posting a mediocre .888 save percentage, Tretiak has the ability to steal a game, and the Soviets are relying on his resume as a big game goaltender to send the series back to New York.
"Tretiak is still the best goaltender in the world," acknowledged Dryden. "He's kept them in every game. We've had to work extremely hard for our goals."
The series has been marked by the clash of styles that has defined international hockey in the 1970s. The NHL's physical, grinding approach has been matched against the Soviets' fluid, creative system that emphasizes speed and precision passing.
For the NHL, this represents a chance to validate the superiority of North American professional hockey on the world stage. The sting of the 1972 Summit Series, where Team Canada barely escaped with a 4-3-1 series victory, still resonates throughout the hockey world.
Remarkably, the NHL's offensive charge has been led entirely from the blue line. All three leading scorers for the All-Stars are defensemen, with Robinson's 8 points leading the way, followed by Denis Potvin's 6 points and Borje Salming's 6 points. This unprecedented contribution from the backend has caught the Soviets off-guard and demonstrates the evolution of the modern defenseman in professional hockey.
Guy Lafleur, the dynamic Montreal right winger, has struggled to find his usual scoring touch with just 2 goals and 2 assists. However, his 25 shots on goal demonstrate his relentless pressure on the Soviet defense.
"The ice is different here, the atmosphere is different," said Lafleur. "But we are professionals. We adapt and we find ways to win."
The political undertones cannot be ignored. With East-West tensions running high during the Cold War era, this series represents more than just hockey supremacy. It's a clash of ideologies played out on ice, with both nations viewing victory as validation of their respective systems.
Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov has made it clear that his team will not go quietly into the Moscow night. "We have shown we can compete with the best professional players in the world," he said. "Tomorrow we show we can defeat them."
The Luzhniki Ice Palace, with its unique dimensions and unfamiliar surroundings, presents additional challenges for the visiting NHL stars. The 200-foot by 100-foot international ice surface provides more room for the Soviet skating game, though the NHL players have gradually adjusted throughout the series.
Centers Bryan Trottier and Marcel Dionne have provided crucial secondary scoring for the NHL cause, each contributing 4 points through five games. Their faceoff prowess and two-way play have been essential in controlling the tempo against the skilled Soviet forwards.
For the Soviets, defenseman Valeri Vasiliev has been a steady presence despite failing to register a goal. His 3 assists and physical play have helped neutralize some of the NHL's top forwards.
As the sun sets over Red Square tonight, two hockey superpowers will take the ice in Game 6 with everything on the line. For the NHL All-Stars, victory would crown them as the world's best. For the Soviet Union, it would force a dramatic seventh game and keep their dreams alive.
The CBC Television Network will provide complete coverage of tonight's historic contest, with veteran broadcasters Danny Gallivan and Dan Kelly calling the play-by-play action from rinkside. The game will also be streamed on the YouTube channel @greenmonster37ft. The legendary duo, whose voices have become synonymous with Canadian hockey, will bring the drama of this pivotal game to millions of viewers across North America. Dick Irvin Jr. and the great Bobby Orr will also be alongside to provided their insites on the action.
The puck drops at 9:00 p.m. Moscow time at the Luzhniki Ice Palace, where history awaits.
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