5-1

The Red Army skated their way to a 6-3 win tonight over arch rivals Prestige Worldwide. The win extended their winning streak to five games, retook the lead in the division, and gave them the rights to claim that they have defeated every team in the division. And while those things are nice, what people really want to talk about is the manner in which the Soviets won tonight.

There was bloodshed. There were bruises. There were 12 stitches. There were slashes, trips, punches, and ejections. Basically, the makers of the schedule knew what they were getting when the penciled in a Red Army/Prestige Worldwide game at 10 pm on St. Patrick's day.

An instant classic.

Ten more notes on the game (so far) of the season:

• First off, shout-out/stick-tap/hat-tip to Ben Breiterman. Playing in his first game of the season, Benny B got high sticked midway through the middle frame. With blood seeping out of two gashes, and every medical opinion east of the Mississippi telling him to go get medical treatment (which he did... in the form of band aids, only to abandon them twenty seconds after applying them), he stayed in the game, was a force on the blueline, and chipped in with a goal in the 3rd. Glad to have you back Benny B, glad to have you back.
• Much of the talk surrounding this game revolved around Mike D'Ignazio. His transfer from #3 in a tuxedo to #11 in red is well documented. So how did he fare? Fairly well. He scored the game opening goal and would have drawn two penalties in any other game. He also stayed out of the box, and in doing so, caused this reporter to lose a pool. The bottom line is, he was on the winning end of a bitter feud, and anybody with an English degree will try to fit the word catharsis into this sentence.
  
• I could write a paragraph about the game Mark Hendricks played tonight, but I'll just give you the stats. Three goals, one assist, a +4 rating, two minutes of penalties , six minutes of penalties drawn, a hit, and a blocked shot. I think he wanted to win.
  
• A player whose performance should not get overlooked tonight is Jamie Simek. The three goals that beat him were rockets. Everything else, and there was plenty, was stopped. He is beginning to look more and more comfortable in that net. Perhaps three beers before a game should become a habit.
• Special teams: 2/4 on the power play, 2/3 on the penalty kill. Though they also gave up a shorthanded goal.
• The breakout was working tonight, as forwards were coming back into the defensive zone to skate the puck out. A lot of the credit goes to the defense on directing traffic and being patient. Breiterman, Pete Collis, Dan Merold, and Ryan Odell were all on their games tonight, and as a result, the Soviets were able to dictate the pace of the game.
  
• Steve Hand and Pat King both realized what kind of game it was and they adapted. Both players' blue collars were visible peeking out from their red sweaters. They may not have put up stats, but you have to believe the cycle game was wearing down the opposition. Or don't believe it. Just know it was 2-2 going into the 3rd period.
• Yes, it was 2-2 going into the 3rd period. The second period saw two ejections, an injury, and a lot of penalties, and yet, with 15 minutes remaining, there were still two points up for grabs. In the haze of cheap shots and after-the-whistle jawing that had seemingly settled down over the rink, it's good to know the Comrades were able to buckle down and get to business. Most teams can't.
• This is back to back games now where the Red Army has found an extra gear in the 3rd period. Last game, with the score tied 3-3, the Soviets stormed out for three quick strikes in the final frame. Tonight, with the score tied 2-2, the Soviets struck early in the 3rd on the power play, then a few minutes later on a breakaway. There's a name for that: killer instinct.
• April 3. Take one guess what happens on that date. Yeah, you got it.
  

Stats:

Goals:
FIRST PERIOD
1. D'Ignazio (unassisted)
2. PPG Hendricks (Collis, Odell)
SECOND PERIOD
None
THIRD PERIOD
3. PPG Odell (Hendricks)
4. Hendricks (unassisted)
5. Breiterman (Merold)
6. Hendricks (King, Collis)

Penalties:
Breiterman (cross checking) two minutes
Breiterman (hooking) two minutes
Hendricks (roughing) two minutes
Merold (roughing) two minutes

THREE STARS:
3: Mike D'Ignazio
2: Jamie Simek
1: Mark Hendricks

PURPLE HEART:
Ben Breiterman