Soviet Superseries

"Who the hell did they beat?" asked a testy Clarence Campbell, president of the National Hockey League, last week after the eight-game series between two Soviet hockey teams and eight clubs in the N.H.L. Nobody important, if Campbell is to be believed. The Soviets, Campbell pointed out, failed against the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres, the two teams that played for the Stanley Cup last spring. The Montreal Canadiens, says Campbell, gave the Russians "a hell of a beating."

The results belie Campbell's convoluted logic. The "beating" the Canadiens administered to the Soviet Central Army Sports Club did not show on the scoreboard: the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Moreover, Central Army defeated the Boston Bruins, and the second Soviet team, the Wings, beat the Chicago Black Hawks, clubs that are leading their respective N.H.L. divisions. All told, the Russian teams ended their tour with five wins, two defeats and a tie.

Most of the N.H.L. could not cope with the distinctive offensive style of the Soviets. Both the Wings and Central Army play disciplined hockey, relying on speedy skating and short passes to set up quick wrist shots. They shoot only when they have worked the puck into what seems like kissing distance from the opposition goalie. Against the Bruins, Central Army was outshot 40-19, but won 5-2. Says Boston Managing Director Harry Sinden: "The Soviets may be the greatest goal scorers we've ever seen. They hardly waste a shot."

The Russians' defensive style is less sophisticated. In fact, the goaltender is the first--and final--line of defense. The Soviet defensemen do not use their bodies to deter opponents as willingly or as often as their N.H.L. counterparts, and the Russian forwards backcheck hardly at all. But with Vladislav Tretiak guarding the goal, there seemed to be little need. He averaged 39 saves in the four games he played and astounded observers with his catlike reflexes.

Against the Stanley Cup champion Flyers, Tretiak's skill was not enough.

The Flyers disrupted Central Army's attack by refusing to chase the puck. Instead they waited at their own blue line --four skaters strong--and checked every Army forward attempting to penetrate the offensive zone. The tactic paid off in a 4-1 victory.

No Penalty. The game was marred by an incident that did little to enhance detente--the professed goal of the Superseries. In the first period, Flyer Defenseman Ed Van Impe decked the Soviets' Valeri Kharlamov, and Soviet Coach Konstantin Loktev retaliated by taking his team to the locker room when no penalty was levied against Van Impe.

At that point Campbell threatened to withhold payment of the $200,000 promised to the Soviets for the series if they did not get back on the ice.

Campbell won that battle and claimed victory in the war as well. Yet for the N.H.L., which touts the Stanley Cup as "symbolic of the world's hockey championship," some reassessment is in order. Vyacheslav Koloskov, Campbell's equivalent in the Soviet Union, has suggested that the N.H.L. invite some Russian teams to compete for the cup.

Campbell refused, but a rematch of sorts will take place in September. Canada will act as host at a tournament for teams from the Soviet Union, Finland, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and the U.S. The Canadian team will consist of players from both the N.H.L. and the World Hockey Association. More than pride will be at stake: $150,000 will be awarded to the winner.

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