 In 1975 , Soviet club teams began to tour North America in the first Super Series . The Canadiens played Central Red Army to a 3 – 3 draw on New Year 's Eve 1975 , in a game that is considered one of the finest ever played . Red Army lost only one of four games against the NHL in the first tour , a 4 – 1 defeat to Philadelphia , who intimidated them as the Flyers did to their NHL opponents . At one point , Red Army threatened to forfeit the game after Ed Van Impe decked Valeri Kharlamov . Red Army was persuaded to complete the game after Alan Eagleson threatened to withhold their appearance fee if the team did not return to the ice . Super Series games continued until 1991 , when Soviet players were allowed to enter the NHL after the collapse of the Soviet Union . 
