The Red Army is 2-0 in its last two games. How often has that been true? Exaggerated headlines aside, let's get down to facts and stats and recap what was a beautiful 12-4 win over the Predators.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Mother Russia evened the game at 1. Mark Hendricks took a pass from his brother Neal, and fired one top shelf where Mommy hides the Nutella. Later in the period, Tony Horton would continue his assault on the record books by finishing off a two on one with Mark. The period would end with the Soviets up only one, but brimming with confidence.
"We knew that (the Predators) had just beaten the Grenades so we had to take them seriously." Captain Steve Hand said. "But when we were out there we just took it to them. I guess you could say they were the, ready for this... prey."
The second period was the coming out party of the Mark and Neal line, or Meals on Wheels as fans have called them. The two put on a puck possession clinic, and Neal, after hitting the post on a wide open backdoor feed from Mark, redeemed himself with a pair in the middle frame. Ben, Steve, and Mark all netted one in the second period, and all came from right on the goalie's doorstep.
"We had to get bodies in front." Mark said after the game. "We want to get traffic in there and have more guys there to keep the play alive. If they send one guy to the front, we send two. If they send two guys to the front, we send three. If they send three guys to the front, we send four. If they send four guys to the front, we send five. If Tom sends one of our guys to the box for too many men, we send two of Tom's guys to the box for poor mustache maintenance."
It was not all offense however. The defense, headed by offseason free agent pick up Ben Breiterman, was solid again. Brian "Beege" Hendricks got his first point of the season with an assist and Andy Schram continued his impressive play by displaying calmness with the puck.
"Go Beege!" Beege said as he was exiting the arena.
The final fifteen minutes was a period for padding stats. Neal and Mark finished their hat tricks, and Mark added a fourth. Steve and Chris each tapped home another one and the horn sounded. The game was over and the Red Army had improved its record to 3-2. With the season nearing its midway point and the jostling for position in full swing, Mother Russia is setting up shop near the top of the standings for the first time in many years. On Thursday, She will face the Mad Dads in a matrimony battle that rivals the neighbors next door. Hold on to your boots comrades, this season is getting more fun by the minute.
WRAP UP NOTES/QUOTES AND THREE STARS:
-Tony Horton now has six goals in five games. He is well above pace for a ten goal campaign, 15? Here is what he had to say: "If I get ten goals I'd be happy. Very happy. Like after Thanksgiving when you can sit back and said you had all you could. But if I could get 15... oh boy. That would be like having a Thanksgiving and a half. Man, that's a lot of turkey."
-Mark and Neal were a combined plus 9 on the night, having been on for 9 of the goals scored for and 0 against.
-When Chris Duhaime shows up for a game in the last 3 seasons, the Red Army is 2930-0.
-Andy Schram ended his penalty-less streak at 2 games.
-3rd Star: Steve Hand
-2nd Star: Mark Hendricks
-1st Star: Neal Hendricks
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