Spiders drop playoff opener to Yellow Jackets

April 5, 2017

Entering the game as the #2 seed the Spiders would have been expected to be the favorites over the #4 seed Yellow Jackets. But defensive miscues and a hot goaltender ruined the Spiders return to the playoffs as they dropped the playoff opener 4-1.

The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring midway through the first period. With Ryan Wilson and Brent Murray in the penalty box a Jacket found some open ice between the circles and one-timed a shot past Brian Dow. Minutes later the Yellow Jackets added to their lead off a 2-on-1.

Dow continued to be tested as an onslaught of odd man rushes and partial breakaways resulted from the Spiders generosity with the puck. The Spiders finally got some puck luck as Aaron Bedessem was hauled down from behind as he drove to the net. The referee pointed to center ice and called for a penalty shot. Bedessem calmly skated in on goal with a deke totally tying up the Yellow Jacket goalie to score the penalty shot and get the Spiders within 2-1.

Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Spiders could muster. The Yellow Jackets added another pair of goals off a perfectly placed wrister and yet another breakaway for a 4-1 final score.

Although the Spiders outshot the Yellow Jackets 36-31 the Spiders failed to generate good scoring chances. And goaltender Brian Dow made some key saves to keep the score from getting worse.

Next up for the Spiders is a showdown with the B3 Presidents Trophy winner Lakers.