Red Army Wins, Slips Into a Tie for 4th Place

Prestige this! After a tough loss to the Mad Dads on Thursday, Mother Russia took and took it hard to their Bronze Division rival Prestige Worldwide and beat them 5-2. Ben Breiterman, who missed Thursday's game, led the team in scoring with two goals and assist and made sure the game was never close.

Captain Steve Hand started the scoring on a two on one with Mark Hendricks. Hendricks fed Steve, who corralled the puck and whipped a shot far side. The strike was Hand's sixth of the season and 11th point, which puts him in a tie with Tony Horton for 3rd in goals a tie for 2nd with Chris Duhaime in points. "I'm more confident with the puck now." Hand told reporters as he worked out on a bike after the game. "I can skate better with my head up and don't always think pass first. Now if I have a shot I'm going to take it. Take it like a Polaroid picture."

The lead was increased to 2-0 a few minutes later on the power play. Andy Schram, playing the point, fired a low wrister on goal where Ben was waiting. The initial shot was saved, but the rebound found only twine. Mark would make the lead 3-0 in the final minute of the first, intercepting a pass in his own zone and deeking the last defender before moving in on a breakaway from center. He deked left, then right, then left, then right, then east, then west, then north, the south south east, then north again, then did a motorcycle leg kick, then threw in a triple deke, faked backhand, and scored on the forehand. He then almost fell when high fiving Brian "Beege" Hendricks on the celebration. "I love breakaways." Mark told reporters. "It's a chance for me to see how much I can dangle before I absolutely have to shoot. Though I suppose attempting a wrap around would give me at least one more second to curl and drag it."

Ben would add another one early in the second before Prestige ruined Kraus's perfect night with a goal. Neal Hendricks netted his first official goal of the season with a backhand that ricocheted off of the goalie from the goal line. "Yes!" A happy Neal said afterwards. Pat King and Beege were credited with assists.

With the win, Red Army is now in a four way tie for that coveted fourth place spot. With half the season done, Mother Russia is 4-3. To get that 4th spot, 5-2 will probably be the goal for the back seven. Keep it real Comrades.