It was awesome to watch them warm-up. They looked like robots and everything was precise.

MICHEL PLASSE
In December 1975, marveling at the Soviet Wings visit to the Civc Arena.


• Eight NHL teams played against two USSR teams in the 1975-76 season:

- Boston Bruins

- Buffalo Sabres

- Chicago Blackhawks

- New York Islanders

- New York Rangers

- Montreal Canadiens

- Pittsburgh Penguins

- Philadelphia Flyers





The Penguins played the Soviet Red Army on January 4, 1989 and won, 4-2.

• The Penguins did not own a minor league team until 1999 when the WBS Penguins (AHL) & Wheeling Nailers were developed.

Mario Lemieux played exactly one minor league game in his career. On Sept. 22, 2001 Lemieux captained the WBS Penguins in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the First Union Arena in Wilkes Barre, PA. The Baby Pens lost to the NHL Penguins, 4-2.
Pittsburgh Penguins Exhibition Games

A look at playing non-NHL opponents
The Penguins have been involved in a variety of non-league games throughout their history.

Some of the biggest games featured the Penguins and teams from the USSR. The first major showdown was during an international event "USSR vs NHL" on December 29, 1975. Soviet Wings won, 7-4, in front of 13,210 fans at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.

Eight NHL teams played two USSR teams .

The Soviet Army Team played the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Moscow Wings played Pittsburgh, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Islanders.

Boxscore from Pittsburgh/Moscow Wings (International clock times)

First period scoring
MOS - Anisin (Bodunov, 1:45), Shadrin (Shalimov, 4:33), Shalimov (Lyapkin, 12:10), and Yakushev (Shadrin, Tyurin, 15:25).

Second period scoring:
MOS - Shadrin (Lyapkin, Shalimov, 21:39)
PIT - Larouche (Kehoe, Faubert, 25:35)
MOS - Repnev (Kapustin, 26:02)
PIT - Shock (Hadfield, Arnason, 26:53)
PIT - Wilkins (Pronovost, Gilbertson, 34:42)

Third period scoring:
MOS - Lyapkin (Shalimov, Shadrin, 40:30).
PIT - Morrison (Hadfield, 43:02).

Penalties:
PIT - Campbell (7:12), Larouche (32:26), Stackhouse (49:41), Shock (57:23).

MOS - Bench (23:31), Yakushev (54:18), Kapustin (57:23)

Goaltenders:
PIT - Plasse 35 (15+8+12)

MOS - Sidelnikov 30 (5+7+18)

Pittsburgh Penguins Ron Schock pases to Simon Nolet (9) in front of Soviet Wings Alexsandr Kylikov (23) on December 29, 1975.
DATE
OPPONENT
RESULT
SCORE
October 2, 2008 Jokerit (Finland)
W
4-1
September 22, 2001 Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (AHL)
W
4-2 OT
January 21, 1992 USA
W
8-6
September 20, 1991 USA
W
5-2
January 12, 1991 Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
L
4-3
December 29, 1989 Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
L
5-2
January 4, 1989 Red Army   
W
4-2
January 4, 1986 Moscow Dynamo (USSR)
T
3-3
1983-84 USA
W
4-3
October 7, 1978 Cincinnati Stingers (WHA)
L
6-4
October 3, 1978 Quebec Nordiques (WHA)
L
3-0
October 7, 1977 New England Whalers (WHA)
L
9-0
September 30, 1976 Indianapolis Racers (WHA)
W
6-4
September 28, 1976 Edmonton Oilers (WHA)
W
7-3
September 26, 1976 Edmonton Oilers (WHA)
W
3-1
September 24, 1976 Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
L
5-3
September 23, 1976 Calgary Cowboys (WHA)
W
7-3
September 21, 1976 Houston Aeros (WHA)
W
5-1
December 29, 1975 Soviet Wings
L
7-4
October 5, 1975 Hershey Bears (AHL)
W
7-3
November 6, 1974 Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
W
5-3
October 4, 1974 Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)
L
5-2
September 27, 1971 Cleveland Barons (AHL)
T
2-2
September 26, 1971 Rochester Americans (AHL)
W
5-2
September 21, 1969 Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
T
3-3
October 6, 1968 Rochester Americans (AHL)
L
5-2
September 29, 1968 Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
L
5-1
October 7, 1967 Oklahoma City Blazers (CPHL)
W
3-1
October 1, 1967 Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
W
6-1


To see a list of Pittsburgh Hornets (AHL) non-league games, click here
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