Spiders Put the Ace in the Hole

Dec. 5, 2011

The Spiders made their every-other-year pilgrimage to historic Aldrich Arena to face the Aces. Since 2009, the Spiders have only faced the Aces one other time and that was during the 2010 playoff run. They were victorious during that event and looked to repeat the feat. The team had been struggling the past two games and was looking for an opportunity to break out of the scoring slump that has been plaguing the team. In addition, the defensive side of the rink was very anxious to stomp out the four goals per game streak.

Energy and excitement from the crowd was abundant even during warmups. This was piqued with the knowledge that it was the team’s annual souvenir puck night. Excited to see the continual return of Doug Thorson and the coach lifting the healthy scratch title from Delsing, the changes seemed to be just what the team needed. The Spiders were able to apply a good offensive fore-check and mid-way through the first period The Ageless Wonder, Doug Thorson (experiencing a wardrobe malfunction) was able to turn Delsing’s well-placed pass into a one-goal lead. Dow was able to put together a few key saves and the team switched ends leading 1-0.

The second period started with the Aces applying continued the pressure with which that they finished the first period. Tim Staples, in full penalty kill mode, was able to take advantage of the additional ice when he found the Thorson-Delsing combo again. This time it was Delsing who took the final touch to put in the team’s first short-handed goal of the season. The crowd was on fire and could hardly be contained! The team killed off the two penalties and ended the second with a 2-0 lead.

There is always that tipping point during any game when you know a team has the game in the bag. Tonight’s contest was put in the proverbial bag when Cory Vandenberghe scored his first of the season with a blast past the sprawling goalie. Though the Aces applied additional pressure and put up 10 shots in the period, the outcome of the game was never in doubt from that point on. Delsing added another and Hilden was able to pad his stats with fifth goal of the game. When it was done, the team gelled like they have in year’s past to finish with a 5-0 victory recording Dow’s first shutout of the season.

With six games on the stat sheet for the season, the team appears to have found their skating legs for the season; however, the next two games will test of that fortitude before the Spiders take a three-week break for Christmas.

Attendance: 8