1-1

The Red Army wanted to avenge last week's season-opening loss by playing a more structured game tonight. They wanted a more potent offensive attack, a stingier defense, and a more reliable goaltender. Well, they got all three of those for parts of the game, but lacked 45 minute efforts on all three fronts. Even so, the Comrades logged enough minutes of hustle to rack up two points in a game that had a bit of everything, and as every hockey expert will tell you the Capitals will never win a cup with Ovechkin a win is a win.

Ten notes on the Comrades' first win of the season:

• I think every fan is salivating over the "second" line right now. Captain Steve Hand and newly acquired Mike D'Ignazio each set the other one up twice tonight to combine for eight points. In what surely will be the first of several times I ask the question this season, "Can ya D'Ig it?"
• The so-called first line did their thing too. Mark Hendricks had a pair of goals (as well as one that mayyyyyybe was in) and Pat King had a goal and a couple of assists as well.
• A problem (or blessing) that the Comrades have this season is that they have more true offensemen than defensemen. The revolving door of players over the past two seasons has seen more blueliners leave and more wingers enter. The result? A lot of guys playing defense who normally don't. Tonight it was Dan Merold and Pete Collis' turn, and they did an admirable job. It will be interesting to see what happens when Benny B gets back (if he is let out of Chinese jail) and if Drew is still alive on the team. (Yes, I fucking love the strike-through text).
• I could compliment Ryan Odell's goal and assist tonight that supplemented his stellar defensive play, but the bullet #14 gets was about his through-the-legs-spin-a-rama move he pulled off in the first. Not sure the physics behind it, or if anyone else saw it, but wow... I'll be getting me a set of those wheels and bearings.
• Jamie Simek started strong, then gave up a few soft goals, then was able to tough it out in the end for the win. Though it's only the second game, it's important for him to win a game like this where the bounces just aren't going the goalie's way. There will be other nights like it...such is the life for a roller hockey goalie.
• Man, if Hendricks had scored on that shot that would have capped off the greatest goal of his career. Gahhhh....
  
• Interesting stat on the night: Three power play opportunities for the Red Army, zero for the Lame Ducks. One power play goal for the Red Army, one shorthanded goal for the Lame Ducks. Special teams were not so special tonight, but at least the Comrades are drawing penalties, right?
• Tony Horton continues to improve on the back end, which is good considering how, as mentioned earlier, he is one of the veteran blue liners now. How many, more, commas can I, put into, one sentence?
• Play of the night? D'Ignazio's deft saucer pass to Hand and Hand's finish.
  
• Tenth note is always the hardest (can you tell I mailed it in on eight and nine?), but I'll bring attention to face-offs again. The game winning goal came on the direct result of a won face-off and a quick pass. Often times in hockey it is the small things that, well, don't end up being so small.

Stats:

Goals:
FIRST PERIOD
1: Odell (Hendricks)
2: Hendricks (King)
SECOND PERIOD
3: Hand (D'Ignazio, Collis)
4: King (Hendricks)
5: D'Ignazio (Hand, Collis)
THIRD PERIOD
6: D'Ignazio (Hand)
7: PPG Hand (D'Ignazio, Collis)
8: GWG Hendricks (King, Odell)

Penalties:
Hand (roughing) two minutes

THREE STARS:
3: Mark Hendricks
2: Mike D'Ignazio
1: Steve Hand