HHOF ‐ Challenge Cup

Presented By

NHLPA logo

Challenge Cup

Challenge Cup 1979 main photo
Challenge Cup 1979 program

In February of 1979, the Soviet National Team played a three‐game series against an National Hockey League All‐Star Team at Madison Square Garden in New York. This one‐time series replaced the annual NHL All‐Star Game that season. For this series the NHL instituted a balloting system for the starting line‐up. By February, six members of the team had emerged. Bobby Clarke, Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur were the forwards, with Larry Robinson and Denis Potvin on defence. Tony Esposito was the netminder against the powerful Soviet squad. The Soviets were in the midst of ushering younger players into their roster with the likes of Sergei Kapustin, Sergei Makarov and Helmut Balderis.

Challenge Cup 1979 program

Game one was an action-packed affair dominated by the NHL squad. Guy Lafleur opened the scoring 16 seconds into the first period and they never looked back. Despite playing most of the game with only four defenseman, the NHL earned a 4‐2 victory. However, game two was a different story. After a slow start, the Soviets rebounded from a 4‐2 deficit and marched to a 5‐4 win. Sergei Kapustin's two goals paced the Soviet comeback. Game three was full of surprises. The Soviets replaced star goalie Vladislav Tretiak with rookie Vladimir Myshkin. Meanwhile the NHL squad started Gerry Cheevers over Ken Dryden in the nets. A packed Madison Square Garden was stunned as Myshkin stonewalled the NHL. After a scoreless first period, the Soviets dominated the remainder of the game, winning 6‐0 to capture the Challenge Cup.

Country Games Wins Losses Ties Points
USSR 3 2 1 0 4
NHL All‐Stars 3 1 2 0 2

Chronology

Results

NHL All‐Stars 4 USSR 2
USSR 5 NHL All‐Stars 4
USSR 6 NHL All‐Stars 0

Statistical Leaders

Top 15 Total Point Leaders

Player Country No. GP G A P PIM
Mike Bossy NHL All‐Stars 25 3 2 2 4 0
Boris Mikhailov USSR 13 3 3 0 3 2
Sergei Kapustin USSR 8 3 2 1 3 0
Vladimir Golikov USSR 25 2 2 1 3 0
Guy Lafleur NHL All‐Stars 10 3 1 2 3 0
Sergei Makarov USSR 24 3 1 2 3 0
Clark Gillies NHL All‐Stars 9 3 1 2 3 2
Valeri Vasiliev USSR 6 3 0 3 3 2
Gilbert Perreault NHL All‐Stars 11 3 1 1 2 2
Viktor Zhluktov USSR 22 3 1 1 2 4
Alexander Golikov USSR 23 3 1 1 2 0
Mikhail Varnakov USSR 10 3 1 1 2 0
Helmut Balderis USSR 19 3 1 1 2 0
Bryan Trottier NHL All‐Stars 20 3 1 1 2 2
Alexander Skvortsov USSR 11 3 0 2 2 0

Top 5 Goal Scorers

Player Country No. GP G
Boris Mikhailov USSR 13 3 3
Mike Bossy NHL All‐Stars 25 3 2
Sergei Kapustin USSR 8 3 2
Vladimir Golikov USSR 25 2 2
Bobby Gainey NHL All‐Stars 23 3 1

Top 5 Assist Leaders

Player Country No. GP A
Valeri Vasiliev USSR 6 3 3
Mike Bossy NHL All‐Stars 25 3 2
Sergei Makarov USSR 24 3 2
Guy Lafleur NHL All‐Stars 10 3 2
Alexander Skvortsov USSR 11 3 2

Leading Goaltenders

Player Country No. GP W L T SO GA
Vladimir Myshkin USSR 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.00
Ken Dryden NHL All‐Stars 29 2 1 1 0 0 3.50
Vladislav Tretiak USSR 20 2 1 1 0 0 4.00
Gerry Cheevers NHL All‐Stars 30 1 0 1 0 0 6.00