Soviet Team Defeats Canadians, 6-5, in Overtime to Take Opener of Finals

Aleksandr Semak’s 30-foot goal at 5:33 of overtime gave the Soviet Union a 6-5 victory over Team Canada in the opening game of the best-of-three Canada Cup finals Friday night.

The goal, which Semak rifled under the glove of goalie Grant Fuhr, brought a jarring end to a game in which Team Canada made one of its most spectacular comebacks against the Soviets, erasing a 4-1 deficit and taking a momentary lead in the final moments of the third period.

“He was the best player on our junior team, famous for his powerful and unexpected shot,” Igor Dmitriev, the Soviet Union’s assistant coach, said of Semak.

Canadian Coach Mike Keenan said: “We asked a little too much of ourselves, having to come back from that far.”

The Soviets, who face Team Canada in the second game at Hamilton, Canada, Sunday night, watched as the Canadians moved ahead, 5-4, on Wayne Gretzky’s goal at 17:01 of the third period.

Gretzky’s shot brought his teammates off the bench and the crowd of 14,588 to its feet in celebration.

It capped a comeback from a 4-1 deficit, with the fourth goal coming on a shot from the blueline by Valeri Kamensky that Fuhr simply missed with his blocker.

The Soviets tied the score only 32 seconds after Gretzky’s goal on a goal by Andrei Khomutov.