Canada Cup Hockey Roundup : Soviet Skaters Are Too Fast for Team USA, 5-1

The Soviet Union’s hockey team skated rings around Team USA in the Canada Cup Friday night. “They have so much speed, they can catch you flat-footed,” center Bob Brooke of the Minnesota North Stars said following the Soviet team’s 5-1 victory at Hartford, Conn.

“They don’t give up the puck until they have a clean pass. They’re taught to hang onto the puck. They really come flying at you.”

Valeri Kamensky and Sergei Makarov each scored a power-play goal in the first period for the Soviet Union (3-1), which has a game remaining in the round-robin competition Sunday night against Canada but is assured of a place in the semifinals.

Team USA (2-2) needs a victory or a tie against Czechoslovakia Sunday night to gain the semifinals.

Canada 5, Sweden 3--Mario Lemieux scored his second goal of the game on an assist from Wayne Gretzky to break a 3-3 tie as the Canadians (3-0-1) went on to defeat the Swedes (2-2) at Montreal.

Czechoslovakia 5, Finland 2--Dusan Pasek had a goal and an assist as the Czechs (1-2-1) beat the Finns (0-4) at Sydney in Nova Scotia.