[1] He mostly played for Traktor Chelyabinsk (1976–80, 1983–89), and also briefly for SKA Leningrad (1980–82), the Quebec Nordiques (1989–90), Torpedo Yaroslavl (1991–93) and Skedvi/Säter IF (1993–95).

He was a member of the Soviet national team, winning a gold medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics and at the 1989 and 1990 IIHF World Championships.

[2] Mylnikov took up hockey at the age of 6, encouraged by his father, and took up the goaltender position because of his relatively small stature.

His international debut was delayed by strong competition from multiple gifted Soviet goaltenders, including Vladislav Tretiak and Vladimir Myshkin.

He died in 2017 at the age of 58,[3][4] and was survived by sons Dmitri and Sergei Jr., a brother, and a nephew – all of whom were ice hockey goaltenders.