FAST FACTS

• Eight NHL teams played against two USSR teams in the 1975-76 season:

– Boston Bruins

– Buffalo Sabres

– Chicago Blackhawks

– New York Islanders

– New York Rangers

– Montreal Canadiens

– Pittsburgh Penguins

– Philadelphia Flyers

 SummitProg
• The Penguins played the Soviet Red Army on January 4, 1989 and won, 4-2.

• The Penguins did not own a minor league team until 1999 when the WBS Penguins (AHL) & Wheeling Nailers were developed.

 09231046.jpg

Mario Lemieux played exactly one minor league game in his career. On Sept. 22, 2001 Lemieux captained the WBS Penguins in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the First Union Arena in Wilkes Barre, PA. The Baby Pens lost to the NHL Penguins, 4-2.

It was awesome to watch them warm-up. They looked like robots and everything was precise.
MICHEL PLASSE, in December 1975, marveling at the Soviet Wings visit to the Civc Arena.

A look at playing non-NHL opponents
SovietTicketThe Penguins have been involved in a variety of non-league games throughout their history. Some of the biggest games featured the Penguins and teams from the USSR. The first major showdown was during an international event “USSR vs NHL” on December 29, 1975. Soviet Wings won, 7-4, in front of 13,210 fans at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.Eight NHL teams played two USSR teams .The Soviet Army Team played the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers.The Moscow Wings played Pittsburgh, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Islanders.Boxscore from Pittsburgh/Moscow Wings (International clock times)

First period scoring:

MOS – Anisin (Bodunov, 1:45), Shadrin (Shalimov, 4:33), Shalimov (Lyapkin, 12:10), and 
Yakushev (Shadrin, Tyurin, 15:25).

Second period scoring:

MOS – Shadrin (Lyapkin, Shalimov, 21:39)

PIT – Larouche (Kehoe, Faubert, 25:35)

USSRbook MOS – Repnev (Kapustin, 26:02)

PIT – Shock (Hadfield, Arnason, 26:53)PIT – Wilkins (Pronovost, Gilbertson, 34:42)

Third period scoring:

MOS
 – Lyapkin (Shalimov, Shadrin, 40:30)

PIT – Morrison (Hadfield, 43:02).

Penalties:
PIT – Campbell (7:12), Larouche (32:26), Stackhouse (49:41), Shock (57:23).

MOS – Bench (23:31), Yakushev (54:18), Kapustin (57:23)

Goaltenders:
PIT – Plasse 35 (15+8+12)


MOS – Sidelnikov 30 (5+7+18)

SovietWings01
Pittsburgh Penguins Ron Schock passes to Simon Nolet (9) in front of Soviet Wings Alexsandr Kylikov (23) on December 29, 1975.
DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
SCORE
           
  October 2, 2008   Jokerit (Finland)
W
 
4-1
  September 22, 2001   Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL)
W
 
4-2 OT
  January 21, 1992   USA
W
 
8-6
  September 20, 1991   USA
W
 
5-2
  January 12, 1991   Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
L
 
4-3
  December 29, 1989   Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
L
 
5-2
  January 4, 1989   Red Army   
W
 
4-2
  January 4, 1986   Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
T
 
3-3
  1983-84   USA
W
 
4-3
  October 7, 1978   Cincinnati Stingers (WHA)
L
 
6-4
  October 3, 1978   Quebec Nordiques (WHA)
L
 
3-0
  October 7, 1977   New England Whalers (WHA)
L
 
9-0
  September 30, 1976   Indianapolis Racers (WHA)
W
 
6-4
  September 28, 1976   Edmonton Oilers (WHA)
W
 
7-3
  September 26, 1976   Edmonton Oilers (WHA)
W
 
3-1
  September 24, 1976   Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
L
 
5-3
  September 23, 1976   Calgary Cowboys (WHA)
W
 
7-3
  September 21, 1976   Houston Aeros (WHA)
W
 
5-1
  December 29, 1975   Soviet Wings
L
 
7-4
  October 5, 1975   Hershey Bears (AHL)
W
 
7-3
  November 6, 1974   Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
W
 
5-3
  October 4, 1974   Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
L
 
5-2
  September 27, 1971   Cleveland Barons (AHL)
T
 
2-2
  September 26, 1971   Rochester Americans (AHL)
W
 
5-2
  September 21, 1969   Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
T
 
3-3
  October 6, 1968   Rochester Americans (AHL)
L
 
5-2
  September 29, 1968   Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
L
 
5-1
  October 7, 1967   Oklahoma City Blazers (CPHL)
W
 
3-1
  October 1, 1967   Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
W
 
6-1