From HATED to HEROES: How the Flyers BULLIED the Red Army ('76 SUPER SERIES)

[@shanestanton8]

This wasn’t just the peak of The Bullies. It was concurrently the peak/ close to it for The Red Army Team; I think a good chunk of their roster from that night night also went to Lake Placid in ‘80. In “Miracle”, Coach Brooks, played by Kurt Russell said that beating the soviets means the players have to stand up to them, not just find a way to take the game the full 60 minutes.

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Soviet league goal scoring leaders were in 1980 Shalimov 34 goals Drotzdetzky 31 Varnakov 30 Priodin 27 Lavrentjev 27! Only Makarov 29 and Balderis 26 were in 1980 olympics!

[@danielpodjun715]

Never knew the Flyers coach was Russian, fascinating! Love the history videos, you have a true knack for story telling my friend.

[@ucumari77]

Thoroughly enjoyed this look back at that series. I remember that was the one and only time I pulled for the Flyers... or Bruins. The 3-3 New Years Eve game against Montreal was probably the best pure skill hockey game I've ever seen. Image if Canada's best players played together their entire career like the Soviets, how unbeatable they would have been. The NHL is definitely playing a more European/Soviet style of hockey these days. It is Don Cherry's worst nightmare!

[@russellgrosser-7677]

Heh. I remember how much Cherry would harp on the late Borje Salming for allegedly being a "chicken Swede."

[@timothyflanigan1777]

today’s nhl os being marketed with speed and skill. it does have a lot of young offensive gifted players. it definately is not the nhl i started watching in the very early 80’s.

[@JRZ67]

I was 8 years old with my dad at that Flyers/Soviets game in '76. I still have the tickets. I saw the Flyers/Soviets game in '83 as well. Going to Flyers games in the 70's as a kid was beyond exciting!

[@alanwylie7207]

That’s cool you know I saw somebody uploaded a video of the full game on KZbin. I think it’s titled super series 1976 Philadelphia Flyers versus Soviet red Army. It’s an hour and 40 minutes long.

[@rogerholloway7362]

I was 11 and was there with my dad. The Flyers played hard, efficient and finished their checks. The most exciting game I've ever been to.

[@kjvav8755]

As a semi new hockey fan I love to find videos of the old hockey so I can learn about the game’s history. Thank you go sir.

[@andrewcampannell5723]

As a flyers fan I love watching different videos about this game just to gain different people’s perspective on the game

[@don63]

The CSKA was the most intimidating team in the world until a little visit to Philly

[@Vladdy89]

This entire series was a disgrace for North American hockey. That match in Philly became the final point of this disgrace. A bunch of dirty cowards knew very well that they could not beat CSKA at a game of hockey. Dirty hits and corrupt referees were the only way to “win.” Total disgrace.

[@encycl07pedia-]

@@Vladdy89 So the USSR never laid hits on anyone? I find that hard to believe. I don't think 4-1 is purely "dirty" hits and "corrupt" referees. Most of the goals seemed to be devoid of hits.

[@mitch3849]

@@Vladdy89 imagine being this upset at old style hockey lmfao. found the 12 year old! newsflash buddy, they didn't call a lot of stuff. maybe you should cry to your stepdad and see if he cares

[@Hoozeytwo]

@@Vladdy89 Outshot them 49-13 LOL!!!! Dirty hits and corrupt refs don't make those stats. They were outplayed and outsmarted.

[@Polemarchus404]

@@Vladdy89 I'm not a hockey fan, but even I could see that Philly players were waaayyy faster on the ice with more skill. It reminds me of when I watch a Mexican baseball team scrimmage against an MLB club.

[@63shakeandbake]

The Flyers subscribed to the old adage, "If you can't beat them in the alley, you can't beat them on the ice!" a quote from Conn Smythe. After the Soviets returned, they barely touched the puck as they were in fear of being hit again. If the NHL was smart, and they weren't, they would've used this method every time they played them in the future.

[@Rockhound6165]

My favorite Fred Shero quote: "Take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor".

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

Not every team could play that game then. The Flyers had the toughness, skill, talent, defense and goaltending to do it. I was at that game, and it was AMAZING!

[@thomasgagliardi5931]

I was 4 years old and remember my dad SCREAMING with joy. I was totally confused yet he tried to explain it to me that they were the 'bad guys'. But that is what got me my first Flyers jersey when I turned five. I still have the VHS tape of this game.

[@russellgrosser-7677]

The Soviets were disliked, but respected in nearly all NHL arenas. Not so in Philly. The Flyers HATED the Soviets, and everything they represented. Absolutely despised them and had no respect for them whatsoever. It really boiled down to national pride and chauvinism, and by extension, democracy vs. totalitarianism. Keep in mind, this was a team composed entirely of Canadian players. In fact, the 1975 Flyers team was the last all-Canadian team to win a Stanley Cup. Shero, Snider, Clarke & Co. took these games vs. the Soviets extremely personally, and in hindsight, I doubt anyone blamed them.

[@chizorama]

This is one of the few times that all of Philly's(team, fans & city) faults became virtues. Calling it a hostile environment is an understatement, embodying the birthplace of the nation vs the commies, a script the best of writers couldn't only aspire to create.

[@matthewdunham1689]

4 years later and the miracle on ice. ❤

[@imulippo5245]

Absolutely great hockey blast from the past! Hockey is my obsession and i freeking love these kind of videos!

[@DaveSumner68]

Excellent job Nick. All of these series in the 70s,(and there were a few of them), were riveting for me as a kid. It was like aliens had landed. Always had a soft spot for the Czechs during these series. This one was pretty fun but, the game at the forum boy...you knew you were watching hockey history as it was happening

[@chizorama]

I was way too young for this game, but my favorite game was, & still is, The Miracle on Ice, the first game that I actually remember watching. Eurizione's goal still gives me chills, I was bouncing off my couch & all over my living room screaming at the top of my lungs, & all Michael's "Do you believe in miracles? YES!!" is still the best sports comment imo. All things considered going into the matchup, to me it's the greatest moment in US sports history.

[@John-hb5jm]

Bruins fan. LOVED THE FLYERS THIS DAY...And Summit Series in 72 when Bobby Clsrk broke Kharlamovs ankle.

[@kelly2558]

Philly vs Red Army was a classic contest but nothing beats the 72 8 game series. That series had everything and in the end Canada rose up against unbelievable odds and just refused to be beaten. I still get chills when I review what those guys did.

[@vrokhlenko]

Do not underestimate Fred Shero's role in that victory. He studied the soviet hockey to a great detail and even went to moscow to talk to Tarasov (coach of the red army club and soviet national team) about various aspects of the game. I do not know if he feel a connection to that country (his parents came from there) or did not like it but he did an excellent job

[@TheJaguarGod]

I wish the NHL was still this crazy and physical. won't ever see this much violence ever again in a hockey game.

[@John-hb5jm]

One time I was a Flyers fan from Boston. Flyers were awesome that game.

[@camthadon5108]

My favorite non NHL game of all time is the finals of the 1996 world cup of hockey. The series shouldve been easily won by canada, but the USA put up an incredible fight and ended up taking the championship.

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

I honestly haven't heard any chatter about that game until now, so I gotta at least watch some highlights! Great suggestion.

[@charlesmurphy1840]

Yeah that usa team was so underrated and at least 5 players on that us team should be in the hall of fame .I believe they aren’t because they are American .Canada doesn’t want to remember that game at all

[@chizorama]

I still have game 3 on video tape, an incredible amount of talent on both sides & Richter's amazing performance make it 2nd only to the Miracle on Ice for me. I was very young for this Flyers vs commies game, but probably watched it with my Nana, as she was a huge Philly fan(of all sports).

[@alangris365]

Yes Canada without Lemieux Roy, Bourque ,Neely, and on and on . lol you sure showed Canada .

[@ReubenKincaidJr]

My favourite game was this one but the best game ever played in my opinion was Russia/Montreal on New Year's eve.

[@TheMrPhiladelphia]

The spectrum was a greater arena. You should do a history on that. Epic .. you walked in and walk down

[@rileykazama3145]

Nicely done nick

[@slaypool]

Thank you for doing this video on my Flyers 😅

[@alicebenson8512]

For me, it's the Miracle on Ice. The highlight of US hockey history.

[@jonbreukel]

My favourite hockey game was on February 7/1976 when Darryl Sittler of The Toronto Maple Leafs scored 6 goals and added another 4 assists to lead The Leafs to an 11 - 4 victory over The Boston Bruins.

[@Guitarandyman1969]

My favorite non NHL game moment came in the 1987 Canada Cup final Game #3 Canada vs. Russia. Incredible hockey with two powerhouse teams going at it

[@scottboyd3838]

May favorite non-NHL games was the Canada/U.S World Juniors game that went into a Shootout back in I think 2007, where Toews just kept scoring in sudden death and had Carey Price stop the Americans a final time and won; ultimately winning Gold in the next Championship game.

[@CoreyBetland79]

Gold medal game. Sweden vs. Finland. 2006 Torino. 200'× 100' Olympic sized sheet of ice. Smokin' & drinking Jim Beam sours for breakfast watching at a picturesque lake house in Bigfork, MN (Iron Range) No congestion, lots of gorgeous passing, a real feast for the eyes. 2003 MN High school Hockey Tournament. Public school / blue collar town (Anoka) with a handful of rink rats from my neighborhood won the whole thing . Lots of quick release, flexed shaft, wristers, (influenced by Gaborik) playing pickup boot hockey games sith them, all night after their hours long, outdoor practices. (I was the warming house attendant with keys to the lights) Seeing them upset all the open enrollment, all-star, heavily scouted, snooty rich kid schools and skate the trophy around was the most fun I've ever had watching sports.

[@jasonjackson1100]

I remember the game vividly.... I was 6 minutes old...

[@September2004]

8:06 I really wished Parent was healthy that year to see what the Red Army game and Canadiens finals would be like.

[@MayBeSomething]

Either the 2010 Olympics Gold Medal game, or Game 8 of the '72 Summit Series.

[@mariopaquette7155]

I have watched that game Flyers- Soviets and the series with the soviets in 1976 against the NHL teams and the Red Army was not better than the Montreal Canadians at that time but Tretiak made a huge difference to tied the game! The Flyers were also very talented but also Fred Shero knew how to beat them! They just played their style of hockey against the Red Army but the Red Army was not able to change their way of playing and adapt to it! The Flyers played what we called today the Trap that game, blocking the center! Fred Shero was a genius! Remember in 1976 Flyers against Montreal, Flyers missed Bernie Parent in the goal and also Rick McLeish a brilliant player! Montreal won the series in 4 games, but only one goal difference in every one of the four games! The Flyers were very talented, like the Montreal Canadians! I was delighted to see the Flyers playing against the Red Army and giving them a lesson! Bobby Clarke despise the Russians from the 1972 series and for very good reasons! The Russians were delioyals, using all kind of tactics against the Canadian team, especially during the four games in Moscow! But, as the series was coming to a close, the superiority of the Canadian players was more and more obvious, despite Tretiak performance who was the reason why the Russians were able to compete!

[@tpatrick6902]

Agree! the games were all 1 goal affairs, Philly without Vezina winner Parent and perennial 35-50 goal scorer Macleish ( also their best skater) would have changed that outcome undoubtedly. Imagine if Montreal entered that series without Dryden and say Steve Shutt, and Philly had Parent and Macleish? I've Maintained for years, the Flyers, had they been healthy, win in 1976. Those 1 goal losses turned around. Revisionist history sees it differently, but youve pointed out the deciding factor. Thanks for the great comment.

[@Rockhound6165]

@@tpatrick6902 Parent wasn't 100% either having missed most of the season with a neck injury. Had he been healthy and continued his ridiculous goaltending from the previous 2 seasons who knows what the series would have been. And you're right, not having MacLeish didn't help but Reggie Leach was down right filthy that season scoring 80 combined goals between the regular season and the playoffs.

[@JSGuitar80]

7:10 Oh, I'd say he did more than "sneak it". Freaking blistering shot.

[@sheddingmyvelvet]

interesting story my favorite game of all time is the 2022 world juniors gold game, most intense overtime of all time

[@blecktrejo2173]

Man... Love your channel!!!

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

Thank you, even when the channel's growing the way it has, comments like this can really keep me going. Have an awesome weekend!

[@PanPanOB]

The golden goal. Enough said

[@jbj7599]

Thank you for properly explaining what happened in Full!

[@doctorwho3029]

one moment in Canadian men hockey history the 2010 Vancouver team winning gold

[@jmarx3943]

I remember seeing a documentary of this game years back. Ed van Impe said something to the effect of "He ran into my elbow with his chin". I don't think that russian player was faking lol. But hey, I wasn't alive to see that game.

[@ColonizerChan]

he prolly wasn't faking, least i'd hope for the sanctity of the game. however they were really pushing the limits. they def made some risks and paid the price for it by playing the flyers like that

[@gregmeir]

One of my fave games winter Olympics in Vancouver gold metal game

[@charlesmurphy1840]

I was born in 73 15 minutes from center city Philly in the suburbs.I’ve been a flyers fan my entire life .sad I was to young too remember any of there teams until 1980..my mother took me to both parades and a week after they won there second cup my parents took me too see the Ringling brothers circus and sat next to Bernie Parent ..they have pictures of me as a baby with Bernie holding me like the Stanley cup..lol I guarantee my dad and him had a couple drinks that night

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

LOL that's amazing!! I hear he was a character, to say the least.

[@wombatwilly1002]

Any of us at a certain age there's no doubt it was Henderson's goal,in game 8, in Moscow.Others will say Mario or Sid's goal.Americans would say the "miracle on ice".I was a huge Flyer fan when this game was played and remember it like yesterday..:)

[@varlaamthecreator4325]

Hmm, I want to say… Game 2 of the ‘79 Challenge Cup. Watching this because I’m very interested in the Soviet hockey system - and props to you for pronouncing the Russians’ names correctly! ❤

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

Thanks, I love linguistics 😁

[@spacerazer]

Quebec Nordiques WHA beat the USSR National team and Tretriak 6-1 on January 8,1977 in the afternoon. Nords had played and won in New England the night before. They were using Ed Humphries a back up goalie. They then played and won the next night against San Diego.

[@ryandaly9093]

Great video. Earned a sub here. Merry Christmas

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

Thanks Ryan, Merry Twistmas!

[@September2004]

Cheering for the Flyers only for that game is like cheering for Joffrey Baratheon if he was still alive and took on the High Sparrow.

[@mmonurdz9456]

My comment's a little late, but what the hell! My favorite non-NHL moment was watching Team USA beat the USSR in the 1980 winter Olympics. Fucking awesome. "Do you believe in miracles!!??? YES!!!!!"

[@timothyflanigan1777]

this might sound strange or weird to many people. my favorite game was in 1980, when the US pounded Czechoslovakia in the second game of the Olympics. that was a very talented Czech team. that had the Stastny's, and other very good players that defected. they were supposed to be the second best team after the Soviets. this game laid the foundation of winning the Gold.

[@charlesalvarez7660]

Thank you for this!

[@V-max97]

One of the greatest moments in my teams history

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

No question. Prior to this, the NHL thought the Flyers were nothing but Bullies, and bullied their way to 2 Stanley Cups. We in Philly knew better. We had HAll-of-Fame talent in Parent, Clarke, and Barber. Not to mention talented players like Macleish, Dornhoefer, Lonsberry, Bladon, and the Watsons.

[@biffalobull2335]

Fun video Thanks !

[@albertabrain63]

Amazing thing about the Flyers is that David Schultz had never had a fight before he played with the Flyers

[@basilcarroll9729]

When the Soviets brought club teams over to play NHL teams they always added all star players from other Soviet teams, yes even the Red Army team that was loaded with National team players was bolstered.If they sent over 2 teams you can be asured they sent the best 44 players.

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

Thanks for pointing that out; I had read that somewhere as well.

[@patstevens1913]

I loved the bulls they played all three periods. It's nice to get your moneyes worth.

[@frederickdefeo3768]

Herb Brooks said that Russian skaters never looked for their teammates so much as they looked for an open patch of ice. Fred Shero knew this, and his strategy was to take away those open patches, basically by devising the earliest form of the neutral zone trap. The Russians skated, but once they were in that box, they had nowhere to pass, and if they tried skating through it, they’d end up like Kharlamov.

[@Lawomenshoops]

Boris was a winger. The center was Petrov

[@robbiecomo5953]

awesome job nick keep up the great work

[@petew2118]

Miracle On Ice

[@saifonlawrence2044]

I never dug the way those Flyer cats played....Peace !

[@brucknerian9664]

I knew they'd lose in Philly; the other teams didn't know how to handle them. Turned out as expected---with Clark's inspiration; hard hits, intimidation, and McLeash and others could score when needed. Soviets came up against a brick wall.

[@masterchonk9111]

How about a 72 summit series video?

[@russellgrosser-7677]

That would be SWEET!

[@TheMrPhiladelphia]

My father‘s first hockey game. Being in philly , his buddy ask yeah you wanna go check this new game out called hockey we got a team called the flyers . 😂😂😂😂 that’s how hockey started in my family. Note my dad like 19 at the time was walking to his seat and a lady was being stretched out from being hit in the head with the puck . Nuts I tell you

[@procyonant6805]

The series was won. The last match didn't mean anything. Loktev left Petrov, Zhluktov, and Tsygankov in reserve for him. When he was persuaded to return the team, he gave the installation: "Just finish the match without injury, I don't care about the score." The NHL descended to open banditry and was punished. In the following seasons, the best players visited only with the WHA clubs. With great difficulty, Ziegler managed to invite Soviets Wings twice in 1977/78 and 1978/79. Both series were also won by the Soviets, and the Flyers barely equalized in the 1979 match.

[@LimitBreakr424]

First I want to say thank you for making this video and telling this story. Just giving feedback, starting at 1:31 the Russian names are pretty wrong. Respectfully, you should have just copy pasted from wikipedia or just spelled them in our alphabet. You're using the Cyrillic letters that look similar to our letters but are just wrong like using "D" sound д in place of "A"s and "Я" is "ya" nothing like "R" so I'm just like wtf am I reading.

[@jameshartwick2826]

1996 Hockey World Cup Final

[@CoreySosner]

Great time to be a kid flyers beat the Russians and my Habs went on to win the Cup 4x ❤ Summit series was great but that USA 1980 team was one of my favorites watched live waving my American flag while ( being ) 🇨🇦 back in the burbs of MTL

[@Sabotage_Labs]

Go Flyers!!!!

[@traderneal]

It's Gary Dornhofer, not Larry.

[@TwistedWristerHockey]

Right you are, I must've been thinking Larry since I had just mentioned Goodenough's goal 🤦‍♂️

[@andrewrae581]

Game 8 1972

[@moody9442]

3 game series 1987 canada cup final

[@filipnassen9076]

None NHL favorite game of all time is probably Sweden vs Finland from 2003 when Finland had a 5-1 lead after half the game, Sweden makes a goalie change and comes back to win 6-5.

[@peterwall583]

I love the flyers,lot of cheap shots not good

[@outdoorrn2980]

Back when the ice was filled with real men.

[@urbanoutdoorsman5654]

In today's world, they would be ostracized for bullying and the media would turn against them

[@JamesWilliams-kt5qr]

They lost the ‘72 summit series.

[@easy_nator_gamer8498]

The game against Montreal was the greatest game ever played. Although the game against the flyers wasn't a great game, it certainty sent a message.

[@michaeloconnor6264]

What a bunch of divers! The Van Impe check was nothing

[@JM-gj7de]

Despicable by the Flyers. Soviets just trying to play hockey out there.

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

Too bad the Soviets were only skill players at that time and afraid of getting hit. Hockey is meant to be a physical game, not just a bunch of figure skaters out there.

[@daveyboy_]

You're not going to call a penalty so we'll leave . What pansies

[@supersasukemaniac]

Then came back when threatened with not being paid. I fmguess the Communists love Capitalism afterall.

[@neanderthalman01]

Canadian wolves in sheep's clothing. The Russian's got pummeled by not so polite Canadian hockey players wearing the hockey jersey of an American team. There's good reason why Canada and the US are good friends and share the longest undefended border in the world. We are very much like minded nations.

[@AlexAnder-ky2ce]

By like minded you of course mean that when USA tells you to jump you ask "how high, sir??"

[@BobzUrUncle-te6dj]

Clark, and the Flyers of that era, were, and always will be a complete disgrace to the game of hockey. While Clarke was a skilled player, there is no excuse for his disgusting slash to the ankle of Kharlamov's ankle. He should have been suspended for at least one season, if not more. Goons.

[@lancecampbell4323]

The 72 series will never be repeated for emotion and intensity. You have no idea what it did to the entire country. I was a Canadiens fan who hated the goon Flyers. BUT. When Clarke broke Kharlamov’s ankle, he became a hero for the ages. Fun fact: Clarke was a late addition to Team Canada when Walter Tkachuk turned down the invitation.

[@stephenallsman8913]

You sound like a Russian

[@tpatrick6902]

The league doubled in size on the back of those "goons" as they were by far the biggest draw in the States. Love em or hate em... The Bullies built the modern NHL.

[@darrenmarchand647]

I have no love for the commies, but don’t glorify the Flyers from the 70’s. they were a bunch of goons and played incredibly dirty hockey. At the time, the sentiment was different, but looking back, it’s frankly embarrassing. Look at the 72 series. Who took the most egregious penalty? Clarke with his 2 handed chop. How does any fan actually cheer for that?

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

The Flyers simply built a team to be able to compete with the Big Bad Bruins, the Black Hawks and the Rangers. I won't condone Clarke's slash of Karlamov, but for the most part the Russian's were skill players, used to playing a skill game, of which they were better than almost everyone. But they couldn't adjust to the Flyers type of game which cost them. They were severely intimidated on the ice. The truth of the matter was, their bus was kept running because they couldn't wait to get out of Philly!! And we were more than happy to see them skulk out of the City with an embarassing loss! Viv la democracy!!

[@JamesMcGinley-wu3qh]

Da, comrade! Bunch of dirty, crazy capitalists!😝

[@km11wpg]

The Real Heroes of 1976 were the Montreal Canadians sweeping the Goon Squad Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals in 4 games resetting hockey back the way it should be played with Skill,Grace & Elegance.

[@tpatrick6902]

Had it not been for the Flyers, the NHL would still have 6 anonymous teams, and a league less popular than golf or tennis. The weird little game played on ice. That Flyers team accomplished more for their sport than any team, in ANY sport ever would. They are the reason the NHL was embraced in America. Thats why theyre still remembered.

[@km11wpg]

@@tpatrick6902 You make it sound like the Flyers saved hockey, they were only as the saying goes "A flash in the pan for a few seasons,Yes they were new and their intimidating style was different but not solely embraced by true hockey fans. By the time the playoffs rolled along and the SCF in 1976 mostly everyone wanted them to lose.Sure they have a huge following but so does many other teams in the NHL as well even bigger than the Flyers.

[@tpatrick6902]

@@km11wpg Bigger draws, no. Flyers are by far the most popular team over the years. The Flyers have drawn more fans in opposing cities than any other team, most of which despised them. You can find the stats. They are unique in that. Theyre disliked more than any other. And thats ok. The way it should be. But its hard to argue that the bullies popularity( contempt) didnt guarantee revenue for prospective owners. They drew nearly 3 x's the fans of any other club. Saved, no.... But 6 teams became 21. They had a LOT to do with that.

[@km11wpg]

@@tpatrick6902 So you just proved my point with my original post that the Canadians sweeping the Flyers in 76 was the best thing for hockey by beating as you say the most hated despised team ever.

[@tpatrick6902]

No, I see it as those whove been bullied exacting revenge... nothing more. In my opinion, the game itself was much more compelling back then. Ive heard many others say the same. A lot of old fans miss it so much, they wont watch todays product. Boring is the common refrain. I guess its in the eye of the beholder. One things for sure, the animosity is gone. The playoffs arent played with anywhere near the same fervor. Some of it is rule changes ( thanks again Bullies), some is foreign players, and some is the higher salaries. I still watch occasionaly but find myself tuning out most of it. The game was always sloppy, predicated on a lot of mistakes.. The hitting, the rivalries, the city loyalty, the threat of violence made the game MORE exciting, not LESS. But I understand a purists position as well. Keep in mind, it was a 6 team league for almost 70 years when the purists had their way. Very very niche. And The game got MORE violent after 1976 not less. It proves, The Habs great teams didnt change the game, not one drop...didnt restore old time hockey. The Flyers great teams did, and in doing so they grew the league. Id bet there are many, many more who appreciate that era and wish for a return. Even yourself..... a purist..... youre here watching the Bullies from 50 years ago. Just like me.

[@AlexAnder-ky2ce]

Great video, but Flyers were goons using refs swallowing their whistles to their full advantage. They knew they couldn't beat the Soviets in skill and they knew Soviets couldn't retaliate with the same goonery so they just went to town with dirty plays. If the Soviets did the same thing to us we'd still be crying about it, "rules for thee but not for me".

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

They wouldn't have beaten us then either. The Soviets were finesse and skill players only. The NHL game in those days was a more physical game in the smaller NHL rinks. Less room for those skilled skaters to skate, so the Flyers basically played a trap game 15 years ahead of its time. Daring the Soviets, who only wanted to pass to get into the zone and tried to skate around you. 4 guys at the blue line daring them to come into the zone. The Flyers didn't bite on their strategy because Fred Shero knew their tactics and developed his own strategy to combat it. Flyers had the players to play that system and win.

[@AlexAnder-ky2ce]

@@ChrisWrigley-b6v It certainly doesn't take much strategy or tactics to skate from behind somebody and crosscheck them into the head or slash them fullforce into an ankle. That's not "physical style of play" that's knowing you're going to be beat and using every dirty trick in the book to try and get an advantage. The soviets already beat NHL team in every previous matchup of that series, so there's no question that they could handle the "more physical style of play" that was common in the NHL. The difference is that the Broad Street Bullies got away with doing dirty and dangerous moves that in any other context would have gotten each of the players that tried that crap a match penalty.

[@billybobking200]

This was a disgrace seeing Flyers bullied the Russian, knowing that nobody will retaliate. Montreal kicked their ass later in stanley cup séries.

[@ChrisWrigley-b6v]

We were down 2 Hall-of-Fame players and they still didn't kick our ass. The won each game by 1 goal. Thats it. But those Canadien teams were great, no doubt about it.

[@encycl07pedia-]

Never use that font again. Cyrillic isn't just weird or mirrored Latin characters. Я is "ya," not "R."

[@Vladdy89]

This entire series was a disgrace for North American hockey. That match in Philly became the final point of this disgrace. A bunch of dirty cowards knew very well that they could not beat CSKA at a game of hockey. Dirty hits and corrupt referees were the only way to “win.” Total disgrace.

[@alanwylie7207]

That could not be further from the truth the flyers dominated that game. There’s a reason why the Soviets only had 13 shots on goal. They stood up to the red army met them at the blue line and didn’t let them get any further. Those dirty hits so-called were normal for hockey at that time. The flyers were the better team The Flyers coach knew that team and study the Soviets. That’s the reason why the Flyers won. it had nothing to do with corrupt referees or any other BS.