Red Army Defeats Gretzky and Oilers at Edmonton, 6-3

Viacheslav Bykov and Vladimir Krutov each scored two goals as the Soviet Union’s Red Army team used its speed and defensive skills to score a 6-3 exhibition victory Friday night over the Edmonton Oilers, the two-time defending National Hockey League champions.

Alexander Zubin and Alexander Veselov scored the other goals for the Red Army, which on Thursday night defeated the Los Angeles Kings, 5-2, in the first game of its tour. The Soviets will play at Quebec on Sunday and at Montreal on Tuesday.

Edmonton linemates Marty McSorley, Glenn Anderson and Raimo Summanen scored for the Oilers, who, playing before a home crowd of 17,498, were outshot, 32-24, and got only one assist from star Wayne Gretzky. Only some superb play by goaltender Andy Moog kept the Oilers close until the Soviets scored four consecutive goals in a span that covered parts of the second and third periods.

Bykov, who at 5-5 and 155 pounds is too small by NHL standards, tipped in a power-play point shot at 4:54 of the second period to break the 1-1 tie, then broke a 2-2 tie at 11:56 on an unassisted goal. From that point, the Soviets pulled away.