U.S. Olympic Team Routs Soviet Selects, 13-2

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Kevin Miller says his older brother, Kelly, has all the scoring talent in the family.

But the younger Miller showed a nice scoring touch of his own Sunday night in leading the U.S. Olympic hockey team to a 13-2 victory over the touring Soviet Selects squad.

Miller, whose brother, Kelly, plays for the Washington Capitals, had three goals and an assist to lead the Americans’ runaway victory.

“Right now, the puck’s going in for me,” Miller said after the exhibition game at the Nasssu Coliseum. “I’m playing with some very talented players and they’re setting up the puck nicely for me.”

One of those players was Allen Bourbeau, who contributed three assists to the Americans’ impressive victory.

“Tonight was a big confidence builder for us,” Miller said. “We didn’t know what to expect from the Russians. But we’re playing good hockey right now.”

Olympic Coach Dave Peterson seemed to think so, too. The victory was the second in three games with the touring Soviet team.

“We got good play from all four of our lines,” Peterson said. “It was one of those nights where everything went in for us. Tonight we finished the plays.”

Tony Granato also scored three goals for the U.S.

The U.S.-Soviet series began Thursday night with an 8-5 victory by the Americans in Richfield, Ohio. The Selects, comprised mostly of players from the Leningrad Army Team and containing few national team members, beat the Americans, 6-4, in Cincinnati Saturday night.

Miller scored the go-ahead goal in the first period to help the U.S. take a 4-1 lead and added two more in the second, when the Americans scored six times to take a 10-2 edge. Granato had a goal in the second period and two more in the third, both on the power play.

The U.S. is now 24-13-4 in its pre-Olympic schedule against collegiate, NHL and international competition.

The eight-game U.S.-Soviet series resumes Tuesday night in St. Louis.