The Soviets had also crushed the US Olympic team in a practice match. Likely made them overconfident.
There was a rebellion brewing in the CCCP team. The coach was very disliked. A few months after the Olympics, the same team from the CCCP beat everyone to win the Canada Cup (beat Canada with Gretzski 8-1). That’s also when the NHL started to build relationships with the Soviets to bring the Russians into the NHL. Rest is history.