With a little more than three minutes remaining in regulation on Sunday night, Mark Hendricks chipped a puck past defenseman Jeff Dinkelmeyer near the Prestige Worldwide bench, raced in on goaltender Sean Hanley, and slid the puck five hole on a nifty backhand move. The goal reestablished the Soviets three goal lead and all but solidified the victory.
Three minutes later it was official, and the Red Army had fought off elimination for the third time this postseason, defeating Prestige Worldwide 7-4 to push the series, and season, to a decisive game three.
"We stayed out of the box tonight, that was the difference," Hendricks said. "We played with an edge, but in the confines of the rule book. At even strength, we outworked them. Last game we were in the box all game, tonight we stayed out of it, and you can see the difference."
Hendricks, who was assessed the game's only penalty-- a cross checking call midway through the third period-- now leads the team in penalties this postseason.
"My rule is I am allowed to take one penalty for every three goals I score. Thursday, I think I'll take two penalties."
Continued Hendricks, "See what I did there?"
Prestige opened the scoring in the first on a rebound. After Red Army goalie Kevin Durkin stopped a point shot with the tip of his glove, the puck deflected up into the air and behind Durkin, where a forward for Prestige tapped the puck into the net.
A few minutes later, the Soviets would tie it.
After regrouping near center, Hendricks took a feed from Pat King and raced wide into the offensive zone. With a defender taking away the option to cut to the crease, Hendricks fired a low snap shot that snuck five hole on Hanley to knot the game at one.
"That was a big goal," Jason White said. "Last game we didn't score until after it was 5-0. I liked our strategy this game of not waiting that long. Patience is a virtue, but I mean, come on. Let's get one in the first period at least."
Those two strikes would be the only tallies in the opening frame, and though the game was tied heading to the first intermission, for the Soviets it was a much needed win for their confidence.
"We got outworked in nearly every facet of the game on Thursday, and I think some of us had that mindset of 'How do you beat these guys?' So coming out tied after one made us feel a little better. Gave us some pep in our step. Speaking of pep, or P.E.P., what's your position?"
Simek then went into excruciating detail over what P.E.P. is and the varying levels of comfort each position affords the, for lack of a better term, diner.
Pat King broke the tie early in the second on a slap shot that neither the defenders or goalie saw. King unleashed the slap shot after Hendricks jarred the puck loose from a defender's skates who had just blocked Hendricks' shot. The puck slid out to King who was trailing the play, and King fired the puck while the other players on the rink were still working to dig out a phantom puck from the defender's equipment.
"I think I was the only one who knew where the puck was," King said. "It was a fluke play, but you gotta take what you can get. Unless it's AIDS, it's pretty easy to get that. Try not to take that."
Moments later, Ryan Odell would join the party, as the defender extended his goal scoring streak to ten games on a top-shelf wrist shot on a three-on-one rush.
"I saw [Hendricks] and [King] cut to the net, and I think both the defenseman and goalie thought I would pass it off," Odell said. "But I saw some daylight above that shoulder, and the way things have been going for me lately, I had to shoot. Everything I touch turns to gold. Literally."
Odell then demonstrated as he turned the Dulles Sportsplex water fountain entirely golden. Even the water pouring forth was gold. Nearby soccer players were astonished, and even called him the second coming of Tebow. Odell played down the compliments though.
"It's nice, no denying it. But it can get a little awkward in the bedroom. Sorry Sheila. Rest in peace."
Prestige Worldwide battled back to make it a one-score game later in the second, as a forward jammed home a puck that had caromed off of the end boards on a wide shot.
The Soviets quickly responded on the next shift, as Hendricks scored his second of the game to stop any PW momentum.
"I fell down four times that shift," Hendricks said. "And I scored while sitting in the crease. I also fell twice while celebrating. Bottom line is, my ass is sore."
Mike D'Ignazio, who was nearby, said nothing.
The D'Ignazio and Steve Hand line was quiet offensively, but the duo, along with the defensive pairing of White and Tony Horton, were tasked with playing against the top unit of PW.
"Obviously we would have liked to score, but I have no problem playing that kind of game, where one line shuts down and the other produces," D'Ignazio said.
Hand shared the sentiment.
"You don't have to score to ball so hard. We balled so hard defensively, that we didn't allow [Prestige Worldwide] to ball so hard. They didn't ball at all. They had no balls."
With a two goal advantage heading into the third, the mantra on the bench was to stay the course, and keep up the intensity.
"We had settled down a lot and were forcing them to make plays," Horton said. "We weren't the ones scrambling. We played, dare I say it, Red Army hockey?"
Hendricks completed the hat trick early in the third on a wrap around.
That's when things started to get chippy.
PW players began taking liberties with Soviet players. The physical shots were undoubtedly a result of mounting frustration and perhaps even an attempt to send messages, but unlike in game one, where mental lapses in discipline cost the Soviets, cooler heads prevailed and the Comrades did not fall into the retaliation trap.
"I think there were one or two shots that their guy got me pretty good," Hendricks said. "But the thing is, that takes them off their game more than me. If they're out there trying to hunt me down, they're usually forgetting someone else."
Hendricks was referring to the Comrades 6th goal of the game, where two defenders vacated the crease to chase Hendricks, and Hendricks found King in the slot for a one-timer that beat Hanley.
"Maybe the easiest goal of my career," said King.
The Prestigious Ones would score once more to make it 6-4 late in the game, but Hendricks fourth goal with just over three minutes remaining sealed the deal.
"It was a good effort by the boys," Durkin said. "Hey, woah, I get a quote?"
THREE STARS:
3: Ryan Odell
2: Pat King
1: Kevin Durkin
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