2-1

Last night, the Soviets finally buckled down and played a solid 45 minutes of hockey, skating to a 4-3 victory over the Strangers. It was the grind-it-out, blue-collar type of effort that coaches often preach about, but rarely see. It may be early in the season, and it may have only been one game, but at the very least, the Red Army showed they are capable of playing that way.

Ten more notes on the D'Ignazio Show game.

• In his first game with the Red Army, he netted a pair of goals. In his second game, he tallied four points. In his third game, Mike D'Ignazio scored a hat trick. Soviet fans everywhere are very much D'Igging it.
  
• If D'Ignazio was the star on offense, Ryan Odell was the star on defense. He didn't shy away from the physical play, as evidenced by his two roughing penalties, but he also was a crease clearing machine, helping fill-in goaltender Ron Whaley see the puck when shots were coming. If Odell didn't play this type of game, the headline of this article would be reversed.
• Speaking of Whaley, he played fantastic. Yes, at times, he can be frazzled and lose his cool, but when he is on... he is on. And he was on tonight. None of the three goals he surrendered were his fault, and he made several key saves to preserve the lead late.
• Jason White had an excellent debut for Mother Russia after a nine month hiatus from the game. He chipped in with a pair of helpers, and also drew two penalties on the same play, resulting in an ejection for an opposing players. Glad to have you aboard, Mr. White.
• Tony Horton continues to do what he's been doing lately: playing solid defense. While some may miss the offensive flare the defenseman has been known to possess at times, this season he has adapted a more defensive approach so far, and it's paying dividends.
• Horton also gets a bullet for being assistant General Manager for the evening, as he brought in Whaley and Jim (insert last name here). Well done, AGMTH.
• Jim played well. He had a power play goal, drew a penalty, and wanted to kill a guy in the final two minutes. That is sooooo Jim.
• Mark Hendricks did not have one of his better evenings. He was a -3, only registered one assist (which came on the power play), and had an egregious turnover in the 3rd that let the Strangers tie the game late. If there was one positive to his game tonight it was his display of stick-handling skills. But we'll trade those any day of the week for finishing skills.
• How about the penalty kill? Two for two with a shorthanded goal. And the power play? One for two. Not bad, not bad at all.
• There was some talk after the game about potential roster moves, but I have faith that GMMH knows what he is doing. After all, they don't call him this for nothing. In fact, they don't call him that at all.
  

Stats:

Goals:
FIRST PERIOD
1: SHG D'Ignazio (unassisted)
SECOND PERIOD
2: D'Ignazio (White, Horton)
3: PPG Jim (Hendricks, Odell)
THIRD PERIOD
4: D'Ignazio (White, Odell)

Penalties:
Odell (roughing) two minutes
Odell (roughing) two minutes
White (roughing) two minutes
White (tripping) two minutes

THREE STARS:
3: Ryan Odell
2: Ron Whaley
1: Mike D'Ignazio