WINTER OLYMPICS : Soviet Union Decks the Czechs, 6-1

CALGARY, Canada — Maybe the report of their demise was just so much Western propaganda. Or maybe they just needed a little capitalist incentive.

Whatever the case, the Soviet Union hockey team offered no reason to believe it’s anything less than the best team in the world by crushing Czechoslovakia, 6-1, in the Saddledome here.

The Soviets, who finished the preliminary round by sweeping all five of their games, pounced on the Czechs for two goals in the first 7:07. Vladimir Krutov, a forward on the Million Ruble Line, then scored two goals and assisted on Viacheslav Bykov’s goal in the second period, and the Soviets outshot the Czechs by a withering 44-21 margin.