Theokritos
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Let's Watch: 1972 Summit Series, Game 7/8
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reckoning
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There was an Oilers blog online years ago that I can't find anymore. But they had a detailed statistical analysis of the series tracking Corsi and scoring chances. They found in this particular game, the Soviets did not get a single scoring chance at 5 on 5 against the Ratelle line, or against the Stapleton-White defence pairing. Very underrated contributors to Canada's win.
Sinden's decision to take out Berenson and put Goldsworthy back in has always puzzled me, but he explained in his Showdown diary book that it was because he wanted Esposito centering two different lines in an effort to get him away from Petrov.
And how about that Henderson goal? He was literally surrounded by four Soviet players when he got the puck. Absolutely unbelievable he scored. Maybe my favourite goal ever.
Sinden's decision to take out Berenson and put Goldsworthy back in has always puzzled me, but he explained in his Showdown diary book that it was because he wanted Esposito centering two different lines in an effort to get him away from Petrov.
And how about that Henderson goal? He was literally surrounded by four Soviet players when he got the puck. Absolutely unbelievable he scored. Maybe my favourite goal ever.
PrimumHockeyist
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I will always remember how I learned about that goal. My class wasn't allowed to see the game, but Max lived up the road, just a few places down from the school. So, he was allowed to and often went home for lunch. I was crossing the schoolyard on my way back to class when I heard him call my name. Max was beside himself. He said, "You won't believe it! Henderson scored an amazing goal and we won the game!"
When he told me that I decided that I wasn't going to be missing game eight. My teachers were all very nice ladies, but it was clear that most of them didn't have a clue what was unfolding historically. I did. Sometimes a ten year-old has to take things into his own hands. I would pretend I was sick, and if my mom didn't accept my performance I fully intended to run downtown after she dropped me off at school. My decision was non-negotiable.
Which perhaps begs a question that some may care to reply to, How did others set themselves up for Game Eight?
PrimumHockeyist
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Sinden on Henderson's goal in game 7
The light "finally" came on... For a tenth of a second.
Here Sinden waxes prophetic. I was very glad that Goldsworthy got to play in Moscow, tactics notwithstanding, owing to the abuse he had to put up with in Vancouver.
Speaking of possible karma, I had forgotten that The Skate incident resulted in 4 on 4. seen at 1:39 here).
Props, I say, however, to BM for owning the incident, as he does later in the vid. Maybe some slack should be given for him never having played in an environment that encourages fighting, as the 1972 NHL certainly did, which resulted in a settled unwritten 'code' that the Soviets knew nothing about. Kicking is inexcusable either way, of course, but BM's contriteness suggests that he wouldn't have kicked had he thought about it. He certainly isn't the only person to have gaffed in extreme 'heat of the moment' episodes.
The light "finally" came on... For a tenth of a second.
Here Sinden waxes prophetic. I was very glad that Goldsworthy got to play in Moscow, tactics notwithstanding, owing to the abuse he had to put up with in Vancouver.
Speaking of possible karma, I had forgotten that The Skate incident resulted in 4 on 4. seen at 1:39 here).
Props, I say, however, to BM for owning the incident, as he does later in the vid. Maybe some slack should be given for him never having played in an environment that encourages fighting, as the 1972 NHL certainly did, which resulted in a settled unwritten 'code' that the Soviets knew nothing about. Kicking is inexcusable either way, of course, but BM's contriteness suggests that he wouldn't have kicked had he thought about it. He certainly isn't the only person to have gaffed in extreme 'heat of the moment' episodes.
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Theokritos
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Eh, what you call "abuse" is something he fully brought upon himself.
PrimumHockeyist
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I could understand the initial reactions, but I seem to remember him getting booed for the remainder of the game. That would be too much. The guy goes out to represent his country, and he continually gets dumped on just for being on the ice? By his own countrymen?
A related thing is that episode where Frank holds up Tretiak. Bad form, but I seriously doubt that Canucks fans would have minded if a Vancouver player had similarly draped Dryden or Esposito in a home game that mattered. I rather think they would have applauded the move, especially if it didn't result in a penalty.
Theokritos
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I guess that's the thing: he didn't play for the Vancouver Canucks but instead he represented the Canadian nation in an internationally-observed series the Canadians expected to win in a convincing manner ... and instead they were struggling and simultaneously looking like they weren't able to handle that fact gracefully. Goldsworthy going out on the ice after that disappointing tie in Winnipeg and committing two blatant and rude offences added fuel to both fires: one, it was a poor contribution to Team Canada's (already disappointing) on-ice efforts, and two, it reinforced the idea that the team didn't have the discipline to represent Canada in a respectable manner.
PrimumHockeyist
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In my opinion, there is now way to discuss games 6, 7 and 8 without being very clear on what happened between them. I agree with Big Phil, this series is not reducible as a moral drama to one slash, or one kick, or Canadians throwing chairs. One thing that probably deserves more discussion was the Europeans' view of the reffing that took place in North America, most of which seemed quite normal, and acceptable, from the Canadian point of view. I would be surprised if the Soviet fans didn't think the first four games were bizarre, since the same Wall had prevented them from seeing NHL style reffing and play previously.
That said, I had mentioned that the Canadian players seemed to be acting out of character between whistles in Sweden. The same was true of the coaches in game five, when they tried to humiliate the refs by throwing stuff onto the ice. The second half of the Summit Series started to turn into a farce that was so common in the decade leading up to this series, courtesy of the IIHF and Olympic hockey's shamateurism. Hard to not think that the Canadian players were reminded of that legacy over the last four games, through what took place behind the scenes as well on this ice. Sinden writes this on the eve of game eight - before or after those steaks suddenly went missing?
Another primary source, or direct witness to what TC72 had to deal with behind the scenes elaborated further in 2018.: "In '72 they were bugging us all over. We found microphones behind the mirror in the bathroom, behind the beds, by the couch. One thing for sure, we never saw a restaurant in '72. We ate bear meat, horse meat, because they stole half our food and half our booze, which was worse."
That said, I had mentioned that the Canadian players seemed to be acting out of character between whistles in Sweden. The same was true of the coaches in game five, when they tried to humiliate the refs by throwing stuff onto the ice. The second half of the Summit Series started to turn into a farce that was so common in the decade leading up to this series, courtesy of the IIHF and Olympic hockey's shamateurism. Hard to not think that the Canadian players were reminded of that legacy over the last four games, through what took place behind the scenes as well on this ice. Sinden writes this on the eve of game eight - before or after those steaks suddenly went missing?
Another primary source, or direct witness to what TC72 had to deal with behind the scenes elaborated further in 2018.: "In '72 they were bugging us all over. We found microphones behind the mirror in the bathroom, behind the beds, by the couch. One thing for sure, we never saw a restaurant in '72. We ate bear meat, horse meat, because they stole half our food and half our booze, which was worse."
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Theokritos
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That blog has gone offline, but there is a successor and the statistical analysis you're referring to has been republished there a few months ago. E.g. Game 7: And I’d Never Heard Someone Say That Before
PrimumHockeyist
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Big Phil
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Paul Henderson has mentioned that when he scored this goal he felt he couldn't do anything better in his career than this and that it was sort of the biggest moment he would ever have...................hehe. And why not? Who the heck would think there would be a goal scored that was even more dramatic than this one? But I'll tell you, none of them were as pretty as this one. There are 4 guys around Henderson when he has the puck. Sort of a broken play, but he kept with it and roofed it over Tretiak. And this was with a couple of minutes remaining. Honestly, if Canada even ties this game then all of the sudden you have a weird scenario where if Canada wins Game 8 there wouldn't have been a winner unless the Soviets declared victory based on goal differential.
One thing about this game is that obviously it had the kick in it from Mikhailov, but keep in mind just how late in the game it was when it happened. The score is tied, it's late in the 3rd, and a brawl breaks out. It just goes to show you the raw emotion at that time. And the players on the ice when the brawl breaks out were Esposito, Cournoyer, etc. not fighters at all.
One thing about this game is that obviously it had the kick in it from Mikhailov, but keep in mind just how late in the game it was when it happened. The score is tied, it's late in the 3rd, and a brawl breaks out. It just goes to show you the raw emotion at that time. And the players on the ice when the brawl breaks out were Esposito, Cournoyer, etc. not fighters at all.
PrimumHockeyist
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Agreed. For all of its glory, I've always thought that Henderson's last was kind of a garbage goal. LOL
Another thing to consider from BM's point of view, in fairness to him, would be his (likely) infuriating awareness that the absent Kharlamov had been whacked by Clarke in the previous game. A nutso scene, and another that one might think could not be topped. But it was, imo, in the minutes after Canada tied the score 5-5 in the next game.
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Not sure if anyone has visited the HHoF in Toronto, but there's a neat exhibit (may still be sponsored by TSN) where you can select a great play in history, and they show the recording on a monitor with the name of the puck possessing player with no play-by-play.
You can do your own play-by-play, it records it, and then plays it back for you. I think you can leave with the recording for a small fee. (this was many years ago, it might have been updated)
It's fun to do your own over-the-top play by play (of the Henderson goals for example) and it also highlights how difficult it can be to keep up with the play without tripping over your tongue.
You can do your own play-by-play, it records it, and then plays it back for you. I think you can leave with the recording for a small fee. (this was many years ago, it might have been updated)
It's fun to do your own over-the-top play by play (of the Henderson goals for example) and it also highlights how difficult it can be to keep up with the play without tripping over your tongue.
PrimumHockeyist
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This is Bobby Clarke in the Jan 1976 Philly Red Army game, talking between periods.
He makes a clear distinction between the Soviet players and their management. If he is drawing a comparison to earlier experience or experiences, I would think that Moscow 72 would be the only one he can make, at the time of this interview, since the Sept 1976 Canada Cup would come later.
He makes a clear distinction between the Soviet players and their management. If he is drawing a comparison to earlier experience or experiences, I would think that Moscow 72 would be the only one he can make, at the time of this interview, since the Sept 1976 Canada Cup would come later.
Staniowski
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Clarke and Tretiak were very close friends. I'm not sure exactly when they became close friends, but it was in the '70s.
PrimumHockeyist
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That's really nice to hear. You mention an era when he would have had a chance to do the same with Kharlamov. I wonder how that might have gone ...
In general, it's been good to read about how the players on both teams have connected. An extraordinary bond, both have so much to be proud of.
PrimumHockeyist
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So, Sinden wasn't the only person to see that there were light issues after Henderson's goal - in game 7. This fresh memory may have contributed to Eagleson's rant two days later.
And another source calls Yakushev the Soviets' best player.
As for the other piece, that the Soviets would inspire better conditioning in the North American game: Understatment of the year,
spiny norman
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PrimumHockeyist
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I'm all for the free market, but I find it very ironic that in this Capitalist vs Communist way of thinking, Canada was unable to field its best team because of capitalism.
