It had been a decade since a Russian team had been at the Civic Arena. On Jan. 4, 1986, Moscow Dynamo took on the Penguins.
General manager Eddie Johnston was instrumental in bringing a game to the Igloo. "I wanted this game for Pittsburgh because it gives the fans a chance to see some of the greatest players in the world. And we think it will be good for our hockey club. It exposes them to a different style."
Like 1975, the previews were more about Soviet hockey than the foe in question. Several Penguins who had played against the Soviets in one venue or another talked about their quickness and skill. Jim Johnson, though, told the story of how Vyacheslav Fetisov broke his nose in the USA-USSR game during the 1985 IIHF World Championships.
"I was breaking the puck out of our end, and Fetisov just sucker-punched me," said the Pittsburgh defenseman. "I never saw where it came from.
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