Spiders roll over Thunder Chickens 6-2

Dec. 6, 2012

Only five games into a twenty game season, it’s a little early to think of Wednesday’s game against the Thunder Chickens as a must-win game. But it was certainly a this-will-hurt-to-lose game. After a loss to the Royals and tie with the Beavers, the Spiders entered the contest in 5th place in the C1 East tiers. A loss would leave the Spiders playing catch up as they would be two full games behind the Thunder Chickens, who came into the game at 3-0-1. After the AHA reorganized tiers in the offseason to create more parity, there are no more easy games where points are easy to come by, making catching up exceedingly difficult.

The Thunder Chickens broke the seal just over a minute into the game as a quick shot out of a crowd snuck by Spider goaltender Brian Dow. Unfazed, Cory Vandenberghe tied the game just a minute later off a centering pass from Brian Armagost. The Spiders kept up the pressure through the first period, outshooting the Chickens 17-8 but couldn’t put another puck behind sub goalie Greg Langer.

Matt Adelmann and Jay Hilden both scored early in the second, extending the lead to 3-1. Adelmann, in a nice individual effort, split the defenseman and deked the goalie before scoring a backhand, five hole power play goal. Hilden’s scored after his first shot on goal was saved by the goalie before one of his own defenseman slid into him, knocking the puck into the net.

Midway through the second period Jim Maietta scored his third goal of the season off a nice feed from Tim Stalpes. Stalpes carried the puck up the right wing, cut in from behind the net and put the puck on Maietta’s stick in front. As Maietta said after the game, “I couldn’t have missed it if I tried.”

Late in the second Matt Adlemann, promoted to center from his normal home on defense, scored his second power play goal of the night as he put away a rebound off the goalie. The score at the end of the second: 5-1.

Jay Hilden extended the lead to 6-1 early in the third. The goal was his second of the night and team-leading fifth of the season. The Thunder Chickens added a goal late to close to 6-2 but could get no closer.

Final score: Spiders 6, Thunder Chickens 2.

The Spiders improve to 3-1-1 on the season with a showdown against always tough Sled Dogs coming up on Sunday. The two perennial playoff teams didn’t play last season but faced off six times in the previous two seasons with the Spiders holding a slight 3-2-1 advantage. Only one game was decided by more than a goal so expect a good game.

The Spiders are hopeful top line wing Aaron Bedessem will be available on Sunday.

Also of note for the Spiders on Wednesday was the return of wing Brad Butalla from a shoulder injury that had kept him out since March. Unfortunately for Butalla and the Spiders, an apparent upper body injury had him retiring to the locker room in the second period. His status has yet to be updated at press time.

With Bob Harnett and Tim Forcelle the Spiders really need to band together through this next stretch of games.

Attendance: 3