INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The Soviet Red Army team, one of the best hockey clubs in the world, met the Los Angeles Kings, one of the NHL's worst.
As expected, there was no miracle on ice Thursday night at the Forum.
Defenseman Alexei Kasatonov snapped a 1-1 tie 73 seconds into the final period to speark the Soviets to a 5-2 triumph over Los Angeles.
'Technically, they are a very sound team,' said Kings coach Pat Quinn. 'They attack so well, are high-powered offensively and make the transition very well. Technically, they are superior to our players.'
Kasatonov, the top scoring blueliner in the Soviet League last year, took a drop pass from Alexander Gerasimov and beat goalie Bob Janecyk to break the 1-1 tie.
The game was played before an enthusiastic crowd of 16,005 at the Forum -- the Kings' first sellout of the season.
'It was a disappointment,' said Dave 'Tiger' Williams of the Kings. 'I wanted to beat them. The good thing about the game was that the Forum sold out.'
Marcel Dionne scored both the Kings' goals, the second coming with 3:06 remaining to make it 4-2. Vladimir Krutov scored an empty net goal for the Red Army with 10 seconds left.
'They surprised us,' said Victor Tikhonov, who also coached the Soviet national team that lost to the United States' 'Miracle on Ice' squad in the 1980 Olympics. 'They played very well against us, especially in the second period.'
Janecyk, one of only two Americans on the ice, stopped 34 shots to keep Los Angeles in the game. The Kings managed just 20 shots against Sergei Milinkov.
'It was difficult to get any goals,' Tikhonov said. 'I believe he (Janecyk) was very tight at the end of the game. During the first two periods he played very well.'
The Red Army squad, the top team in the Soviet Union, is scheduled to play five more games against NHL clubs, including a contest tonight against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers.
Nikolai Drozdetski and Gerasimov also scored in the third period for the Red Army squad.
Los Angeles, with the NHL's worst home record and second-worst overall mark, was outshot 16-4 and surrendered a goal with 39 seconds left in the first period to trail 1-0.
Using the weaving, European style to create chances, the Red Army scored when Krutov carried the puck in deep and passed in frontto captain Viacheslav Fetisov, who beat Janecyk high on the stick side.
But then the Kings began pounding the Soviets into the boards and got Dionne's first goal to tie it with 10:38 left in the middle period.
Off a faceoff, Dionne ducked behind Dave Taylor on right wing and zipped a 25-footer past Milinkov on the short side.
There were just six minor penalties called in the game, which was played under NHL rules that include the use of the red line. The game was officiated by a Soviet referee.
The Kings survived a two-man disadvantage for 36 seconds in the second period.
Los Angeles was without top scorer Bernie Nichols, out with a knee injury. The Soviets, who brought 10 players who played in the 1980 Olympics, were missing two of their best players.
