The Red Army looked like its old self last Sunday, pulling ahead in the third period to win a game that many thought shouldn't have been so close. Still, two points is two points, a win is a win, and the line juggling worked out. While there is (much) room for improvement, the Soviets still played well enough when it counted most, and for now, that is making people happy.
"We definitely had break downs during the game," Captain Steve Hand said, who finished with a goal and an assist. "But we also stepped it up at times. It was back and forth action, I don't think any team ever lead by more than two. Though, we did get off to a rocky start and that is something that was addressed on the bench."
The captain was referring to the two early goals allowed on Sunday. The game was not 90 seconds old before the Mad Dads had pierced Andy Schram twice. The line of Pat King and Hand seemed to be off to a slow start, and had some people already doubting the value of the pair.
"Yeah, we were used to seeing Pat and Mark out there to start the game," Ben Breiterman told reporters. "They seemed to have Labia magic and could usually generate chances and set the tempo. But we were just back on our heels that first shift. Those guys definitely rebounded though. I mean, you know the saying, just take it one shift at a time. It's true, in every facet of life really. Take it one step at a time, one Baltimore hooker at a time, one beer bong of absinthe at a time, one line of mercury based cocaine at a time, one syringe of rocket fuel laced heroine at a time, one tattoo of that Baltimore Hooker's initials on your upper back at a time. Man, this weekend was crazy."
The Mad Dad's early advantage, unlike their fatherly fury, was short lived. Mark Hendricks and Tony Horton scored back to back beauties to knot the score at two.
"With Mark, he draws people to him," Horton said. "I knew if I got open I would get the puck. It's easy to play with him because we both know our roles."
Hendricks echoed his new linemate's sentiments.
"We definitely worked well together. Tony, for a big guy, can get open pretty easily. He doesn't miss many in tight chances. He also is a big time net presence, and that was something I think that Pat and I lacked. So there are some adjustments I'm making. Luckily, both Tony and Pat are pretty good at being the third man back, so I am still able to poach a bit for that long stretch pass."
King, whose emergence as a scoring threat last season prompted the line change, showed that he was more than capable of carrying a line. He gave the Comrades their first lead of the game later in the period when he fired a perfectly placed wrister top shelf where Mommy hides the Kahlua.
The lead was squandered as the Mad Dads stormed back for back to back goals to end the period 4-3.
"It was no secret," Hoefer said, "Andy didn't have his best period. He missed warm-ups so he was pretty cold. Still, we knew he would rebound and we could keep up the pressure. On defense I thought the three of us were doing pretty well back there so we just kept preaching more of the same. Pucks out of the zone and be smart when joining the rush."
In the second period, as expected, Andy settled down. He made a few early saves and was more calm with the puck. After a few minutes of scoreless action, the Soviets were rewarded a power play. They cashed in. King fed a pass down low to Hoefer, who had activated from the point, and the defensive defensman suddenly turned offensive defenseman wasted no time in sending a quick cross crease pass to Hand. The puck ricocheted off a defensman, the goalie, and Hand's skate before crossing the goal line.
It was 4-4, and the Red Army's goal scorers: all four of their forwards.
Again, the Mad Dads would take the lead. Again, King's line responded. This time, the King called his own number for the second time, picking a corner on a loose rebound he collected in the slot. The shot, his patented top shelf wrister where Mommy hides the vibrator (these were some rightfully mad Dads) beat Celenski high glove.
Hendricks, not to be outdone by his old linemate, got reacquainted with the scoresheet on a beautiful give and go with Brad Lotocki. Hendricks raced up the right wing and dished a pass over to Lotocki, who one timed a pass back to the unsuspecting Hendricks. Hendricks, stumbling over an errant Celenski poke check, caught the pass and buried the shot into a gaping 6 X 4 twine. Hendricks Hendricks Hendricks.
"I've been playing with Lotocki for the better part of a decade now, and I know he loves those quick one touch passes on rushes," Hendricks said. "I'm not sure why I wasn't able to catch it easier, but it certainly made for the scariest empty net goal of my life. I was 99% sure I was going to hit iron. Would have ruined my Christmas."
The Mad Dads rallied one last time in the dying seconds of the middle frame, scoring a controversial goal that may or may not have been batted down with a high stick. The play was reviewed in Toronto, but the angles shown on the Sportsplex security cameras only revealed statutory rape in the upstairs female bathroom between a coach and his U18 girl's team star goalie. The goal counted and the game became a 15 minute contest.
"I felt like I played better that period," Schram said, "And Mark and I talked at the start of the third about how it was just a one period game. I think I feel better as the game goes on. I definitely would have felt better if I had taken that second pregame dump, that is for sure."
The final frame went almost seven minutes without a goal, then the Hendricks Horton line struck again. The two cycled in the corner and as Hendricks circled the net, two men were focusing on Horton, allowing Lotocki to sneak back door. Before you can say "Well slap my face and call me Barbara" the puck was on Lotocki's blade and then in the net.
"Bear Cavalry! Rawwwwr!" Lotocki yelled, hopping on his his bear with Renee and riding off into the sunset, presumably to more mountains.
The Hendricks and Horton combo was not done. Hendricks deked through half of humanity and deposited his hat trick tally late in the game to give the Soviets some Erin Esurance, and Horton made the Mad Dads sterile with his empty net goal. It wasn't easy, but they got the win.
"I think the lines worked tonight," King told reporters after the game, smoking his infamous victory blunt which is made of the finest Peruvian herb and wrapped in hundred dollar euros. "We clicked, they clicked... I think we have line 1 and line 1a right now. That's what good teams have."
THREE STARS:
3: Brad Lotocki
2: Mark Hendricks
1: Pat King
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