Albertville ’92 : Bykov Buries Canada

===================================

The old CCCP logo was missing from the red sweaters but the same skill and proficiency at the game of ice hockey was still there.

Less than two minutes remain in the Gold Medal Match at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France, and the Canadians are desperate to level the score trailing by a single goal.

After finally gaining control of the puck, Canada start up the left wing with ERIC LINDROS (88), the Quebec Nordiques’ number one overall selection at the 1991 National Hockey Leage Draft, in possesion. Just past the blueline, however, the big 18-year-old has his backhand pass broken up by another Quebec draft pick (1989, 9th round), Unified Team center VYACHESLAV BYKOV (27). 

After receiving a drop pass from his teammate with HC Fribourg-Gotteron in Switzerland’s Nationalliga A, ANDREI KHOMUTOV (15), the diminutive Bykov cruises into the slot between the circles and uncorks a serious slapshot that whistles past Canadian goaltender SEAN BURKE’s glove :  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI9tzy8sOOw

Bykov’s goal caps a 3-1 victory for the Unified Team and continued Canada’s 40-year gold medal drought at the Winter Olympic Games.