Indeed, although Russia has a better record against Canada in Canada than in Russia, Toronto has been a hostile environment for both CCCP and the modern nation.

And perhaps the person to thank for all of this is Peter Mahovlich.

Recall it was the “Little M” who scored a glorious short-handed goal against Vladislav Tretiak in Game 2 of the Summit Series, on September 4, 1972, propelling Canada to a vital 4-1 victory. Two years later, at the WHA/Soviet Union Summit Series, Canada (a team made up of only WHA players) won at Maple Leaf Gardens by the same 4-1 score, its only victory in that series.

Cut ahead to the first Canada Cup in 1976. The Gardens hosted five games and the only time the Soviets played there they lost, to Canada, 3-1.

Playing in the North American pool of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, Russia played twice, losing again to Canada, 3-1, before finally winning in Toronto, at the Air Canada Centre, defeating Slovakia, 5-2.

At the junior level, the results are just as overwhelming. Touring Russian junior teams have never played in Toronto since the series began in 2003, but Russia’s record against Ontario teams is four wins and 20 losses.

Ironically, many of Russia’s greatest victories in hockey occurred in Montreal, starting with the opening game of the Summit Series which set the tone for the most important eight games ever played in international hockey. In 1981, still smarting from an Olympic defeat in Lake Placid, CCCP crushed Canada, 8-1, in the championship game of the 1981 Canada Cup.