It finally happened: in the eleventh game of the regular season, the Red Army played a complete 45 minutes of hockey against a difficult opponent and came out victorious. They took the lead just 42 seconds into the game and never looked back. They owned the puck, out skated and out worked the Puck Ewes, and showed that, at least for one night, they can hang with the big boys.
"Confidence is key," Mark Hendricks said following the win. "This was a confidence builder for us. We have played so many close games this season but always seem to lose. This game was close until late in the third and then we pulled away. At this point I don't care if we win by one goal or ten, it feels good to win. I want to see us continue to play like tonight, because if we do, I'm not sure there's a team that can beat us."
Hendricks helped to get the scoring started early in the game when he fed Ryan Odell a pass in the slot and the defender fired a low snap shot just inside the post. The goal, which on the score sheet was credited as #14 from #18, was scored at 14:18.
"We planned it that way," Odell joked after the game. "It was a good play, and that whole first shift we were doing a great job of talking to each other. [Pat King] went to the front of the net and [Scott Hoefer] did a great job in the corners. By the time I got the puck, I think all four of us had touched the puck within the last five or six seconds."
A few minutes later the Comrades would strike again, this time while on the power play. Tony Horton, playing his second consecutive game on defense, activated from the point and took a slick feed from Pete Collis. Horton fired a shot that somehow found the top corner of the net, and the forward-turned-defender had his second goal in as many games.
"I knew I didn't have a good angle, but I thought I saw some daylight upstairs," Horton said. "I just got the shot off quick, and as I was skating behind the net I saw it was lying behind the goalie. The best part was that there was no holding call on the play to nullify the score."
The Soviets were able to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to stellar goaltending by recently called up backup goalie Chris Celenski. Celenski was an emergency call up after Jamie Simek was a late scratch due to a football emergency in Seattle.
Though the second period saw opportunities for both teams, neither was able to capitalize. A great penalty kill to end the middle frame by the Comrades maintained their two goal bulge entering the third.
"We just made sure we were always having our sticks in passing lanes and making smart clears," Ben Breiterman said. "Plus I tried a nice little move on the breakaway while I was shorthanded, but I ended up just bowling over the goalie. All part of the plan."
About midway through the third period, the Soviets finally got the insurance marker they were looking for. Hoefer took a pass from Hendricks and fired a wrist shot that beat the goalie five hole. The shot was clocked at 17 miles per hour.
"I'm not even sure the puck hit the back of the net," Hoefer said to reporters after the game. "I didn't get all of it, but [King] was setting the screen and I don't think the goalie even knew the puck has been fired. I mean, I think it took about eight or nine seconds for the puck to reach the goal, so he had plenty of time to react, but like I said, it was a great screen."
With the score 3-0, the Puck Ewes tried to mount offense as time wound down, but with a short bench and a stingy defense, they played into a Soviet trap that was bent on creating chances on the counter attack. After Hendricks broke up a Puck Ewe rush with a well timed poke check, the forward raced down the wing and dished a saucer pass to Horton. Horton, who just can't seem to miss these days, fired a shot that was faster than the lateral movements of the goaltender, and in the blink of an eye the lead became an insurmountable four goals.
"That Horton is so hot right now," Captain Steve Hand said, before folding his piano key necktie.
In the final minute, Celenski's bid for a shutout was ruined after a wrap around beat him moving post to post. Celenski was unavailable for comment, but he was heard muttering something to himself as he skated towards the locker room of another team which he inevitably plays for.
For now, the Comrades improve their record to 3-7-1 and look to establish their first winning streak of the season on Tuesday night against the Black Presidents. With their position as the 7th seed all but solidified, the Comrades are playing mostly for pride at this point. Pride breeds confidence, and that's something every other team in the division would like them to be devoid of come playoff time.
THREE STARS:
3: Mark Hendricks (3 assists)
2: Scott Hoefer (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 drawn penalty)
1: Tony Horton (2 goals)
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