Spiders start fast and hold on for 7-5 win

Nov. 3, 2016

The Spiders started the season on a winning note with a 7-5 victory over the Fighting Piranhas on Sunday.

The game highlighted both the best and worst of the Spiders. The first period and beginning of the second period were the best as the Spiders sprinted out to a 6-0 lead. Recent acquisitions Jason Yancey and Christian Peterson led the way with Yancey tallying two goals and an assist and Peterson with three helpers. Aaron Bedessem, Cory Vandenberghe, Jay Hilden, and Jim Maietta also scored for the Spiders.

The ice tilted in the Fighting Piranhas favor in the second period. The Piranhas scored three in quick succession in the middle of the period and added another in the final seconds to close within 6-4 and put pressure on the Spiders.

Full panic mode was reached as the Piranhas got within a goal with less than six minutes to play. After a timeout and quick re-group the Spiders defense solidified and Matt Adelmann iced the game with a shot into the Piranhas vacant net from 170 feet. Final score: Spiders 7, Piranhas 5.

There are lots of positives anytime you score 7 goals. All three forward lines were working, including the Yancey/Peterson rookie pairing, but also some defensive deficiencies. There were numerous odd-man rushes, both the 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 variety due to over-aggressive forechecking. The Spiders also had trouble clearing loose pucks in front and at least one goal was due to Brian Dow being screened by his own defenseman.

But a win’s a win and the Spiders will look to tighten up the defense going forward. The Spiders next take the ice on Sunday, November 6th at 9:15pm at New Hope North. This will be the first ever meeting between the Spiders and Barons. At the time of publication it’s unclear whether defenseman Hank Long will be making his season debut as the league is discussing the definition of a “calendar year.”