Sept. 28, 1972

It wasn't supposed to be this difficult. Almost every hockey person in North America expected Team Canada to roll over the Soviet Union in their eight-game series.

But the Soviets had more skill and savvy than the Canadians knew, and took a surprising 3-1-l lead after five games. Canada came back and won the next two games, with Paul Henderson scoring both game-winners.

In today's deciding game in Moscow, Canada trails 5-3 after two periods before Phil Esposito scores early in the third period and Yvan Cournoyer ties the game with seven minutes left. As the clock winds down, it appears the teams are headed for deadlock -- both in the game and series.

But with 34 seconds left, Henderson strikes again. The Toronto Maple Leafs left wing pops in a rebound past goalie Vladislav Tretiak to give Team Canada an amazing 6-5 victory and world bragging rights by taking the series, 4-3-1.

"When I saw it go in," says Henderson, who scored seven goals in the eight games, "I just went bonkers."