You won in 1980 because USA hockey had come into its own and no one was paying attention. All but 1 went on to play NHL hockey. along with the coach. the Olympic gold is easier to win than the Stanley cup. Not just one but several 7 game series. Not to take away from that victory. You won plain and simple. Hats off, but not a miracle. That u.s team was very good. Just no one knew it. Back then a statement that "you skate like an american" was not a good thing lol. Today that's definitely not the case. It was the 80's team that helped start that.
- ziffles

I would call it a miracle as how the Russians were the best hockey team on the planet, beat USA 10-3 13 days prior, the USA kids had been together for maybe a year? while the Russians were a team that had been together for decades, winning the last four Olympics. The game could easily have been 6/7 - 0 Russia. All this, at the height of very strained relations between the two countries. Fact is, nothing will come close to replicating the pure hate for the other team from a country standpoint and the pure division in talent/team chemistry that this game symbolizes.

I was at that game in the old Aud. Probably the best sporting event i have ever been too. The game was played just after the commie Russkies invaded Afghanistan and everyone thought WWIII was going to happen. Huge amount of tension in the rink - it was very political. The Sabres absolutely destroyed the vaunted Red Army machine.
- SabreWest

I missed it, tad too young


I did see when edwards gave up a late hattie to the great one and wayne broke the season goal record?


I think that was what he broke

Lindy coached a conservative game for sure

soft goal in the second


dumb play by soupy and leads to pp goal at the end to win by 2
- homiedclown

Good memory.
Wish we had lindy back. Hopefully at some point.

Teams take on the personally of their coach.
We are soft, timid and spineless

Ruff was respected, tough and fearless.

He had to fight cam Neely, I will never forget.
Didn't win, but showed up and didn't back down.

Super Series 1980
Dynamo Moscow versus NHL

Dynamo Moscow won a series against NHL team with 2 wins, 1 tie, and 1 loss. The scores were:

Vancouver Canucks beat Dynamo Moscow 6 to 2
Dynamo Moscow beat Winnipeg Jets 7 to 0
Dynamo Moscow beat Edmonton Oilers 4 to 1
Dynamo Moscow tied Washington Capitals, 5 to 5.

Moscow Central Red Army versus the NHL

Red Army won a series against NHL teams with 3 wins, 0 ties, and 2 losses. The scores were:

Red Army beat New York Rangers 5 to 2
Red Army beat New York Islanders 3 to 2
Montreal Canadiens beat Red Army 4 to 2
Buffalo Sabres beat Red Army 6 to 1
Red Army beat Quebec Nordiques 6 to 4
- homiedclown

No argument the soviet all stars are elite. . An all star team from Canada would have done the same. but if both faced and nhl all star team definitely not. would have been different results

Good memory.
Wish we had lindy back. Hopefully at some point.

Teams take on the personally of their coach.
We are soft, timid and spineless

Ruff was respected, tough and fearless.

He had to fight cam Neely, I will never forget.
Didn't win, but showed up and didn't back down.
- Boss34

watch the video where Lindy took a cheap shot from Billy Smith in the playoffs semi finals


I need to get ready fro work or I would dig it up

I would call it a miracle as how the Russians were the best hockey team on the planet, beat USA 10-3 13 days prior, the USA kids had been together for maybe a year? while the Russians were a team that had been together for decades, winning the last four Olympics. The game could easily have been 6/7 - 0 Russia. All this, at the height of very strained relations between the two countries. Fact is, nothing will come close to replicating the pure hate for the other team from a country standpoint and the pure division in talent/team chemistry that this game symbolizes.
- SDSabre

LOL hate.....the damn KGB made phone calls to the Canadian 72 players in their hotel rooms to sleep desperate them. it definitely was east vs. west

I missed it, tad too young


I did see when edwards gave up a late hattie to the great one and wayne broke the season goal record?


I think that was what he broke
- homiedclown

I think it was 50 goals in 39 games or whatever it was. Fastest to 50 with a hatty on aud ice.

Fixed.
- Atomic Wedgie

No hatin' on the plaid pants!

I think it was 50 goals in 39 games or whatever it was. Fastest to 50 with a hatty on aud ice.
- Khmylev

sounds right

I know donnie kept him off the board for a while


then he got a basket of goals

I missed it, tad too young


I did see when edwards gave up a late hattie to the great one and wayne broke the season goal record?


I think that was what he broke
- homiedclown

Yup, you are correct. I was 10 years old, sitting in the "reds" (behind where the Oilers shot twice) with my stepmother (dad worked as a statistician for the Sabres for years).

He got goals 77,78 and 79 in the 3rd period.

Gil had all three goals for Buffalo. I'll never forget it.

to put it in perspective


usa beating the russians in 1980 would be like guelph university hockey team beating the 2018 maple leafs in a meaningful game
- homiedclown

i dont think your giving team usa enough credit. its just they were better than anyone knew at the time. now that time has passed . look at the players on that team.

Fixed.
- Atomic Wedgie

Wedge old boy, you want the Bills to go up to get a top QB in the draft or stay put?

the movie had it right, the soviets had no clue how/when to pull the goalie at the end
- homiedclown

Soooooooo...

There is a theory out there that the Soviets threw the 1980 Olympics.

Long story short:
President Carter is threatening to boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Games. USSR simply can't afford it - they've spent too much money, and they need the propaganda of beating western countries.

So they devise a devilish plan: throw a marquee event in the 1980 Lake Placid games (4 months earlier) in the hopes that the US would be swept up in Olympic fever and want to go to Moscow.

What makes this conspiracy theory so much fun is that the USSR played (more accurately, coached) the wildest, wackiest game of hockey ever for the game against the US.

I've had fun with this over the years (including convincing one of the world's most prolific hockey book editors to include a tiny reference to it in a best-selling (for hockey!) book.

Of course, I've never actually believed it.

But here's the fun bit: my brother is a teacher, and Tretiak was coming to the school to give a little talk. So I insisted that my brother ask him about it (this was a few years ago, but less than a decade).

So Tretiak gives his little talk on whatever, and then they open it up to questions. The kids have no franking clue who this guy is, so there is an awkward silence.

So my brother asks, "Mr. Tretiak, it's never been fully explained why you were pulled from the Miracle on Ice game. What happened?"

According to my brother, Tretiak laughed under his breath, then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to echo the same sort of bullcrap that you would expect - but my brother says he never really listened to anything after that first sentence.

Your all dummys.

That is all.

Jack this team up Jason!

Yup, you are correct. I was 10 years old, sitting in the "reds" (behind where the Oilers shot twice) with my stepmother (dad worked as a statistician for the Sabres for years).

He got goals 77,78 and 79 in the 3rd period.

Gil had all three goals for Buffalo. I'll never forget it.
- Powerslave

Look at those numbers. We had a guy get 76 once (89) and it was incredible. Probably never happen again unless there are rule changes. Our team can barely score 200 in a year and he had almost half that number. Sick.

Your all dummys.

That is all.

Jack this team up Jason!
- ImThatGuy

This is mostly accurate.

No hatin' on the plaid pants!
- Powerslave

Are you kidding me?

Nothing but love.

Pure love.

Wedge old boy, you want the Bills to go up to get a top QB in the draft or stay put?
- Hatboro_Swords

You're asking the wrong guy - I watch almost no college football, so I don't know what's out there.

I'm more of a put on my Bills cap, pour myself another beer and watch the game kinda guy. I leave team management to the Bills - I'm confident they can screw it up without my help.

What do you want them to do?

Oh, frank, you've sucked me in - I think Tyrod earned another year.

You're asking the wrong guy - I watch almost no college football, so I don't know what's out there.

I'm more of a put on my Bills cap, pour myself another beer and watch the game kinda guy. I leave team management to the Bills - I'm confident they can screw it up without my help.

What do you want them to do?

Oh, frank, you've sucked me in - I think Tyrod earned another year.
- Atomic Wedgie

And just to think, I was starting to like you, and then you go and say this.

Anyone notice if there is a for sale sign up at Ror’s place?

There’s a Philly cheesesteak with his name on it at the airport, no need to thank me.

You're asking the wrong guy - I watch almost no college football, so I don't know what's out there.

I'm more of a put on my Bills cap, pour myself another beer and watch the game kinda guy. I leave team management to the Bills - I'm confident they can screw it up without my help.

What do you want them to do?

Oh, frank, you've sucked me in - I think Tyrod earned another year.
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm torn. I don't think there is a potential franchise QB in next year's draft. This time last year everyone knew the big QB's in college coming out for this draft. This is the draft we have the most draft capital to do it. Problem is Bills will need another 2-3 years to build up through the draft given the number of picks they're going to burn to move up. It's a tough call, but leaning towards doing it. Wth.

Look at those numbers. We had a guy get 76 once (89) and it was incredible. Probably never happen again unless there are rule changes. Our team can barely score 200 in a year and he had almost half that number. Sick.
- Khmylev

Yeah, he finished with 92, I believe, that year. Ridiculous.

But, goalies weren't what they are today, equipment wasn't what it is today (guys are willing to stand in front of 95 mph shots without even blinking today), guys are so much bigger and faster, too.

Put OV in that era and he's scoring 100.

You're asking the wrong guy - I watch almost no college football, so I don't know what's out there.

I'm more of a put on my Bills cap, pour myself another beer and watch the game kinda guy. I leave team management to the Bills - I'm confident they can screw it up without my help.

What do you want them to do?

Oh, frank, you've sucked me in - I think Tyrod earned another year.
- Atomic Wedgie

Did we watch the same playoff game?

I'm torn. I don't think there is a potential franchise QB in next year's draft. This time last year everyone knew the big QB's in college coming out for this draft. This is the draft we have the most draft capital to do it. Problem is Bills will need another 2-3 years to build up through the draft given the number of picks they're going to burn to move up. It's a tough call, but leaning towards doing it. Wth.
- Hatboro_Swords

I guess a big part of the puzzle is what will Brady do?

If he retires, I think the Bills have to do something to try to win the division.

If Brady stays, maybe start the rebuild and sign 2018's equivalent of Vinny Testaverde to play out a year or two.

Soooooooo...

There is a theory out there that the Soviets threw the 1980 Olympics.

Long story short:
President Carter is threatening to boycott the 1980 Moscow Summer Games. USSR simply can't afford it - they've spent too much money, and they need the propaganda of beating western countries.

So they devise a devilish plan: throw a marquee event in the 1980 Lake Placid games (4 months earlier) in the hopes that the US would be swept up in Olympic fever and want to go to Moscow.

What makes this conspiracy theory so much fun is that the USSR played (more accurately, coached) the wildest, wackiest game of hockey ever for the game against the US.

I've had fun with this over the years (including convincing one of the world's most prolific hockey book editors to include a tiny reference to it in a best-selling (for hockey!) book.

Of course, I've never actually believed it.

But here's the fun bit: my brother is a teacher, and Tretiak was coming to the school to give a little talk. So I insisted that my brother ask him about it (this was a few years ago, but less than a decade).

So Tretiak gives his little talk on whatever, and then they open it up to questions. The kids have no franking clue who this guy is, so there is an awkward silence.

So my brother asks, "Mr. Tretiak, it's never been fully explained why you were pulled from the Miracle on Ice game. What happened?"

According to my brother, Tretiak laughed under his breath, then blurted out, "USA Hockey should build a statue of me."

He then went on to echo the same sort of bullcrap that you would expect - but my brother says he never really listened to anything after that first sentence.
- Atomic Wedgie

BS - as how could the Soviets "make" the US win in the preliminary round? They were 30 seconds away from losing to Sweden in game #1, which would have effectively ended their gold medal hopes. How did Russia convince Sweden to give up the tying goal with 30 seconds left and then for the Czechs to play horribly in game 2. The US was losing 2-1 to Finland going into the 3rd period in the game after the Russia game. If the US doesn't score 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd, they don't win the gold. So.....next conspiracy theory?