Spiders Beat Admirals 5-2

Dec. 6, 2009

The Spiders made the long drive out to Eden Prairie to take on a familiar foe in the Admirals. Revenge was in the air as the Admirals knocked the Spiders out of first place in the division last year with a 4-3 OT victory.

The first period began with the Admirals controlling the puck in the Spiders zone and the Admirals got on the board first with 1:15 left in the period. The Spiders forecheck got rolling in the second period. The distinguished line of Maietta-Thorson-Schliesman got the Spiders on the board early in the period off a set play from behind the net. Shaun Tromiczak tallied his seventh goal of the season later in the period from Mark Bortnem. Aaron Bedessem put the Spiders up 3-1 on a short-handed breakaway. Bedessem split the defenseman and followed his own shot and put the puck past the sprawling netminder. The third period saw Shaun Tromiczak and Dave Schliesman add two more goals with the Admirals scoring one as well. Spiders goalie Brian Dow made 27 saves and raised his save percentage to .911.

Things started to get ugly late in the third period as Admiral Kevin Joseph got his XXXXL feelings hurt and cross-checked Spider Aaron Bedessem in the head, behind the play, directly in front of the Spiders bench. Both officials apparently had their eyes on the puck as neither saw the obvious intent to injure. The Spiders bench was in an uproar and the result was game misconducts for three Spiders — Josh Cagle, Bob Harnett, and Mark Bortnem. When the dust settled and everyone started acting like adults, Admiral Joseph apologized and everyone involved felt shame. Of course Joseph wasn’t ejected so he will see no punishment.

The Spiders front office is awaiting word from league management but may be without the three ejected players for the next game. Super subs Tim Forcelle, Jack “Hammer” Delsing, Lee Martini, or Jeremy Litton may be pressed into action. Next Sunday the Spiders will again make the trip to Eden Prairie, this time to take on the Thunder Chickens in the second leg of the Revenge Tour. The Thunder Chickens and the Spiders previously played in the C2 playoff opener last season. The first playoff game in Spiders franchise history was one to forget as the Chickens upset the Spiders 5-3.