"This is the kind of game you feel great after," Captain Steve Hand said. "A huge rivalry and the way that we won... it's just, it's just so great."
Hand then elaborated on how great it felt.
"I would say the feeling is like having the girl of your dreams show up naked at your front door and say 'Let's wake up all of the neighbors with some earth shattering sex'. Then, you get a text from your boss that says, "Hey, I'm giving you a raise. You can also take the year off.' Then, your dog that passed away nine years ago shows up at your door and says, "LOL, I was sleeping. Let's play catch. Also, I now speak English... and Spanish... and I can file your taxes... Yeah, that's what it feels like."
As good of a feeling Hand was experiencing, the way the game started had many fans feeling uneasy. The Cosby Sweaters struck on their first shot of the game when Tony Horton threaded a pass to a fellow Sweater for a one time blast. Moments later, it was 2-0 after a defensive miscue in the Soviet end led to a Sweater being alone in the slot with time to pick a corner.
"Obviously, not the start we were looking for," Jamie Simek said. "But, we definitely rebounded and fought back. I mean, sure."
Mike D'Ignazio pumped life into the Soviets with a late first period goal. After defenseman Scott Hoefer disrupted a play at center, he flipped the puck ahead to D'Ignazio, who fired a slap shot short side on Celenski.
"The defender was coming to cut me off, so I went with the old slap shot," D'Ignazio said. "I guess this is the part of the quote where I'm supposed to make a gay joke, so I'll say this... gay joke."
Between periods, the focus on the bench was about keeping up the pace.
"I actually thought we should slow down," Hendricks said. "But the other guys thought if we kept up the pressure and run and gun style, their inexperience would show. It was a good strategy, but I had three McRibs this week, so the slower the game went, the less out of shape I would look. Plus, there were like two girls up there watching."
Continued Hendricks, "By the way, you can't order a McRib and not be embarrassed. You feel shame with that purchase. I'd feel more comfortable buying a blow up doll at MVC and bumping into my Pastor in the parking lot."
The fast pace continued into the second, and the Soviets got a quick goal, just 29 seconds into the frame. Hand jammed in a rebound from a Hoefer shot to even the score at two.
The Soviets would take the lead a few moments later when the Cosby Sweaters were whistled for too many men. After Hand gained the offensive zone, he made a drop pass to Hoefer. Hoefer deked past one penalty-killer and fired a shot on goal. The puck was blocked aside by Celenski, but ricocheted off of another defender in front and bounced into the goal.
"I played a lot of pool growing up," Hoefer said. "I knew what I was doing."
The lead was short lived however, as on the ensuing shift, the Pullovers belonging to the host of "Kids Say the Darndest Things" tied the game on a goal mouth scramble. Two minutes later, they had staked themselves out to a 4-3 lead on a Dante George wrist shot.
With the Comrades reeling, it was D'Ignazio who struck again late in the period to tie the game, and again he took the pass from Hoefer.
With the score knotted at four, both teams exchanged chances early in the third seeking that elusive fifth goal. The Pat King and Hendricks line had several close range opportunities, but couldn't manage to get one past Celenski.
Finally, around the midway mark of the third, Odell provided the heroics, scoring what would prove to be the eventual game winner.
"I saw some space, and I fired it there," Odell said. "That's what I do, I see gaps and I shoot for them."
Continued Odell, "My life goal is to fill the Grand Canyon with pucks."
OTHER NOTES AND QUOTES:
- Collis was pleased with his performance, and reminded reporters after the game that he has now scored the furthest distanced backhander on the season. "I don't want to brag, but that was like a 60 foot backhander. Hmmm, 60 foot backhander, I think I just found the name for my next album."
- King and Hendricks are officially slumping. Asked if he thought they could break out of it, King provided this gem, "Probably."
- Horton was spotted putting on a red jersey after Collis scored the empty net goal. "I wasn't trying to blend in with the winning team," Horton said. "That was actually my jersey for C.E.A.R.S. (Competitive Eating And Random Sports) team. I have a Lasagna Jump Rope competition at 10:15 tonight."
- Kevin Ahearn and Joe Welsh did an admirable job of shutting down Hendricks tonight, though a good spin for this bullet would be that they played into Hendricks' hands, because he knew full well that not only would D'Ignazio score, but that Hoefer would enjoy himself a career night. Check and mate, boys.
- Ted Shaffer got Shaffered, and though our editors aren't sure if we're allowed to publish that without breaking some sort of FCC violation, we're going to risk it because it's fun to say.
- Lastly, we would like to brag. Usually when we submit guesses for games, we are off by 5 to 9 goals (see: any prediction ever made on this blog). Earlier today, we guessed that the Red Army would win 6-3. Sure, that ended up ultimately being false, as they were victorious by a 6-4 margin, but come on folks, that's impressive to somebody. No? Just us? Well fine. I hope you all get Shaffered now.
THREE STARS:
3: Mike D'Ignazio
2: Ryan Odell
1: Scott Hoefer
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