Well, the grudge match is over. Nearly a month after the Soviets ousted team Trailside from the playoffs, Trailside got their rematch. The result? Another 8-4 win for the Comrades. Whether or not this will quell the comment-posting machine Stefan Sopko or not remains to be seen, but this much is known: he'll need more than his international conglomerate of leaders to beat Mother Russia.
"I think this one meant a little more," Mark Hendricks said, when asked about the importance of tonight's game. "Obviously it's a long season, and you want to win as many as you can, but yeah, with all of the stuff that was happening between these two teams lately, I think it got us a little more amped."
Hendricks, who finished with three goals and three assists, was not about to declare the Red Army early favorites to win the division.
"We played incredibly sloppy. [Pat King] and I took a while to get going. We didn't generate many opportunities. I thought defensively we were pretty good, but there was a lot of rust. The next time these two teams play each other, both teams will be much better."
Hendricks started the scoring midway through the first period with a power play goal. After Hendricks won the face off back to King at the point, the forward found space to receive a pass to one-time. King passed the puck along the point to Tony Horton, and Horton found Hendricks for the one-timer which beat Chris Celenski moving post-to-post.
"It wasn't that good of a shot," King said. "He shanked it."
"But I shanked it top shelf," Hendricks said.
"You can't brag about shanks," King said. "You just can't. Man law."
King would increase the lead to 2-0 near the end of the opening frame after he tucked a backhand past Celenski on a breakaway.
Early in the second period though, the 2-0 lead was relinquished after back to back turnovers cost the Soviets.
"We got a little sloppy in the neutral zone," Jason White said. "Luckily though, I'm a Giants fan, so I can take solace in my team moving on to play Green Bay."
White then began tearing up before continuing.
"Actually no... I'm... I'm a Jets fan. Our season ended in October."
Immediately after surrendering the game-tying goal, the Soviets stormed right back to reclaim the lead. Birthday-Boy Tony Horton took a Mike D'Ignazio pass and fired a snap shot top shelf from the high slot.
"It was a good pass from [D'Ignazio]," Horton said. "I think we did a good job of joining the play today, the defense I mean, and it really opened things up."
Moments later, Steve Hand would strip a Trailside defender of the puck near center and score on a breakaway.
"Top cheddar baby," Hand said. "Top. Cheddar."
King and Horton would each add their seconds of the game to make it 6-2, but a late Trailside tally to close out the middle stanza made the score 6-3 heading into the third.
"We definitely wanted to keep things tight," Jamie Simek said. "For sure they were going to come at us. But we just had to keep doing what we were doing. By the way, I lead the team in aerodynamics. Look at my back."
Simek then removed his shirt and showed everyone the waxing he had had performed on his back over the weekend.
"We won't start planning for next weekend," Simek said, in that Simek way.
Hendricks scored on a breakaway to increase the lead to 7-3 early in the third. Then, after Trailside had scored to make it 7-4, Hendricks completed the hat trick with a one-timer from a deflected Horton pass.
"It was one of those fluke bounces that went right to me before the goalie could react," Hendricks said. "But I'll take them anyway they come. Plus, Celenski talks a lot of [trash]."
OTHER NOTES AND QUOTES:
- Aaron Duda made his Red Army debut tonight. He also showcased his impressive collection of cups in his equipment bag. "What? You don't have seven extra cups in your bag?" Duda said. "Well, what does that say about you? It says you don't take genitalia protection seriously."
- Kevin Durkin continued his solid play in the Soviet net. He was unavailable for comment following the game however, as he had to tend net for the Shockers/tend to twosies in the girl's pool locker room.
- Mike D'Ignazio was frustrated from his beloved Steelers losing, and also declined to comment. Well, he did comment, but only about his hair cut. "I really wanted to get it short, I think it looks pretty good." When asked about his lack of power play time, D'Ignazio continued, "I'm definitely going to save money on shampoo, that's for sure."
- Pete Collis, who drove home from Hawaii earlier that day (yes), was credited with a team-high four blocked shots. "With [Ryan Odell] out for the year, we'll all have to step up in the department." Collis then added, "It's a good thing I wear four cups on each leg."
THREE STARS:
3: Jamie Simek
2: Pat King
1: Tony Horton
ONE FINAL NOTE
The Dulles Sportsplex will no longer be referred to as "the Plex" when team Trailside plays the Red Army. It will instead be referred to as the Dojo.
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