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
 
• 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.
 
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.
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A look at playing non-NHL opponents
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 The 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: Second period scoring: MOSÂ – Shadrin (Lyapkin, Shalimov, 21:39) PITÂ – Larouche (Kehoe, Faubert, 25:35)
PITÂ – Shock (Hadfield, Arnason, 26:53)PITÂ – Wilkins (Pronovost, Gilbertson, 34:42) Third period scoring: PITÂ – Morrison (Hadfield, 43:02). Penalties: MOSÂ – Bench (23:31), Yakushev (54:18), Kapustin (57:23) Goaltenders:
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