Spiders hang tough in high scoring battle against Mutiny

Jan. 14, 2014

Do two games count as a streak? We’re going with it. After a five game skid, the Spiders are on a roll with a two game winning streak after hanging on to beat the Mutiny 7-6.

The Mutiny struck early, scoring just over a minute into the game. The Mutiny controlled play early before the Spiders gained momentum as the period wore on. Brian Dow made several big saves to keep the deficit at 1-0 through the first period.

Chris “Five Hole” Stalpes tied the game just six seconds into the second frame. Stalpes gloved down a bouncing puck at the face off circle, split the D, and fired one past the goalie. Shawn Tromiczak gave the Spiders the lead shortly after and Bob Maietta added a shorty. Tom Prausa notched his first Spiders goal with a shot from the point into the corner of the net to extend the lead to 4-1. The Mutiny closed the gap before Jim Maietta gave the Spiders back the three goal lead as the period ended.

The Mutiny answered once again, making the score 5-3 early in the second. Then, out of nowhere, an event as rare as the birth of a white buffalo or the appearance of Halley’s Comet occurred – a Dave Schliesman breakaway! A stretch pass out of the zone sprung Schliesman all alone at center ice. Schliesman lumbered and staggered his way toward the goal as the Spiders held their collective breaths….still holding….still…holding…turning blue…in tears…finally erupting as Schliesman wowed the crowd with a nasty deke and roofed backhander. 6-3 SPIDERS!!!!

The Mutiny started showing signs of life as the short-benched Spiders tired. Two more Mutiny goals got them within a goal with over eleven minutes left. Bob Maietta scored a clutch goal, his second of the game, to give a little breathing room. More scrambling, a couple lucky bounces, and a few clutch saves by Dow had the Spiders hanging on by a thread. The Angry Mullet Brothers officiating tandem then decided to make it interesting, whistling Aaron Bedessem for a phantom tripping call. The Mutiny promptly responded by closing to 7-6 but could get no closer as the Spiders hung on for a much needed win.

Although the Spiders didn’t close the game out well, there are plenty of positives. Despite skating without their top two centers in Jay Hilden and Matt Adelmann and scoring leader Mike Townsend they got the job done.

The Spiders now sit at 4-6-0 on the season. The results of the Lakers/Ice Hogs game on Monday aren’t in at press time but the Spiders may be as little as two games out of fourth place.

Next up for the Spiders are the last place Royals, who the Spiders beat 4-2 in the season opener, at 7:30pm on Saturday, January 18th at Richfield 2.