Spiders Rally To Beat Sled Dogs, Enter Playoffs With Momentum

March 26, 2011

Entering the final game of the regular season, both the Spiders and Sled Dogs had already clinched playoff berths but were hoping to maintain momentum. In the case of the Spiders, a win coupled with a Fighting Piranhas loss or tie across town against the Warriors would give the Spiders the division championship.

The Spiders had the upper hand early and Brian Armagost got the scoring started just over two minutes into the game. The pressure continued for most of the period but the Sled Dogs tied the game in the final minutes.

Jay Hilden put the Spiders up 2-1 early in the second period but the Sled Dog forecheck soon began creating turnovers. The Sled Dogs again evened the score shortly after Hilden’s tally and continued the pressure. A freak bounce led to another Sled Dog goal late in the second period. A shot from the point went off the end boards and back in front of the net, eluding Spider goalie Brian Dow. The puck ended up on the stick of a Sled Dog player for what is surely one of the easier goals of their career as the Sled Dogs took a 3-2 lead.

Knowing the importance of entering the playoffs on a high note, the Spiders juggled lines midway through the third period. It paid off with less than two minutes to go in the game. Matt Adelmann battled behind the net and fed a backhand pass to Brad Butalla streaking to the net. Butalla cleanly beat the goalie five-hole and sent the game to OT.

Experienced sin bin dweller Jack Delsing was whistled for a hooking penalty in the first minute of the overtime period. The Spiders calmly killed off the penalty and were rewarded with a power play of their own. Ready to take advantage, Bob Harnett picked up the puck in neutral zone, carried it over the blue line, and fired a slap shot into the corner from the face-off circle to win the game.

The win moves the Spiders to 15-3-1-1 and 32 points. The Fighting Piranhas beat the Warriors on Saturday to finish 15-3-2, also with 32 points. The Fighting Piranhas win the division championship as they won the season series with the Spiders 2-1.

The playoffs will begin for the Spiders on Sunday, April 3rd at 8:30pm at Richfield 2 against the Royals.

Game photos

Armagost (77) celebrates the first of the game, with Bortnem (16).

Cagle (2) pushes into the Dog zone through traffic.

Butalla (12) surrounded by a pack of dogs.

Maietta (66) in the paint.

Dow (31) awaits the faceoff by Hilden (17).

Harnett’s blast in OT for the game-winner.

And for game photos, see the Spiders Photo Gallery.