Dow stands tall in Spiders 4-3 win over the Northern Horde

Dec. 9, 2017

The Spiders arrived at Richfield on Saturday night to find a jam-packed parking lot and a near capacity rink 1. Fans clamoring to see the Spiders take the ice again after a three week break? Let’s assume that… The NAHL (junior A) game between the Minnesota Magicians and the Fairbanks Ice Dogs was merely the appetizer for the main course of Spiders vs. Northern Horde.

The Spiders started the game exactly as you would expect with a team coming off a three week break – slow and sloppy. The ice was tilted in the Horde’s favor and they took advantage with two early goals. Netminder Brian Dow stood on his head to keep the game from getting out of hand and Matt Adelmann scored on the power play late in the period to close the gap to 2-1.

Dow continued shutting down the Horde in the second but was matched by Horde goalie Zach Barlow for a scoreless period.

Jason Yancey continued his early season hot streak with a goal early in the third to tie the game at 2-2. As the period wound down the Northern Horde continued to dominate long stretches with Dow making big saves and the Spiders d-men scrambling to clear loose pucks. Just as it seemed the Spiders were barely clinging to the 2-2 tie, Yancey scored to give the Spiders the lead.

Less than a minute later Aaron Bedessem out-muscled a Horde defender and knocked in his own rebound to give the Spiders a 4-2 lead. The Horde closed to 4-3 with under two minutes to play but the Spiders were able to hold on for the win.

Shots ended up 41-23 in favor of the Norther Horde. It’s safe to say the Spiders, and Brian Dow in particular, “stole” this one. But no one’s giving it back, just as no one would expect the Battle Cats to give back their 3-1 win over the Spiders in the season opener.

The win moves the Spiders to 3-1-1 on the season. Next up for the Spiders is a matchup with the Gators on Saturday, December 16th.