Another week, another tie, this time with Diablos

Nov. 2, 2008

But this week, it was lukewarm soup on the ice and a roller coaster ride on the scoreboard, coming down to a non-existent overtime to decide the match.

Shades of last year were apparent in a number of ways, especially with former Spider Dave Schaefer on the ice, now with the Diablos (who was reportedly overheard divulging Spiders’ team strategy secrets to the Diablos dressing room).

First, the goalie wearing #31 got called for slashing. Fortunately, it was the Diablos’ netminder.

Second, and far more unfortunate, the Spiders reactivated their disabled list, which saw more activity than the scoresheet last year, as Spiders’ faithful will recall. This time, with 5 minutes remaining in the first, Captain Brad Caron and a Diablo collided directly knee-to-knee and sent Brad to the ice. Team physician Rob Droullard attended to Brad and pronounced him to have suffered a “lower body” injury, as it is team policy not to comment on injury-related specifics.

And in a final echo of last year, the Spiders dug themselves a three-goal hole, with Diablo snipers taking shots at will from the high slot, through most of the second including one that richocheted off a perfectly positioned defenseman Ryan Herman’s shinpad and into the top corner. After that, it was mass confusion on the Spiders’ bench, now down to 12 skaters and thrown-off lines, so the Spiders called a much-needed timeout at 10:17 of the second to regroup.

Finally, with two and a half minutes remaining in the second, center Aaron Bedessem broke through the Diablos defense, backhanded to Luke Baker at the blueline, and they tic-tac’d toward the net, with a shot then Bedessem driving it home, cutting the Diablos’ lead to two and making the ESPN play of the week highlight reel. Not one to miss out on the fun, a minute later left winger Jay Hilden scored unassisted, bring the deficit to one, 3–2 at 1:23 in the second.

The scoreboard was quiet through most of the third, as the refs had apparently swallowed their whistles throughout the game. But they were visibly shaken by defenseman Jeremy Litton’s attempt to move the puck out of the zone under a falling Diablo, and called the first penalty of the game with 8:57 remaining. However, the Spiders’ PK unit was up to the task following last week’s special teams workout.

As the third period ticked away, the Spiders’ tiring legs found newfound energy, as Jay Hilden again found twine, on assist from Mike Johnson, with 4:32 remaining in regulation. Tie game!

Duly inspired, and not wanting to stay up later for an overtime frame, Mike Johnson got a second taste of the action, driving hard to the net and scoring unassisted, as well as getting a taste of the Diablos’ goalkeeper stick. Despite protestations, the Diablos were left shorthanded and a goal behind with just under 4 minutes to play.

On a roll, the Spiders drove hard, crashing the net and — yes — scoring. However, the refs, who were now making sure their whistles worked, waved off the goal for a Spider in the crease. Not to be discouraged, the Spiders still collapsed around the net, got one off the keep’s glove as it bounced to a waiting Aaron Bedessem, who knocked it home simultaneously to the ref’s whistle (again) because he was out of position to see that the goalie hadn’t caught the puck.

In the waning seconds of the Power Play, the refs evened it up for a brief 4-on-4 as Chris Flannery was called in the neutral zone for hooking with just 2:05 remaining.

Moving back into PK mode proved a challenge for the gassed Spiders. They turned away the Diablos rush a number of times, but the final press back into the zone caught the Spiders flatfooted and out of position, and the swarm of Diablos in front of Spiders goalkeeper Amber Obermoller eventually found the net and a re-tied scoreboard.

The remaining 50 seconds saw a couple of narrow chances by each team, each counting on an extra frame to settle the score. But as regulation ran out, the refs informed the teams that the late night ice capades needed the ice next, so the game was done. Final score, 4–4.

Again, a solid matchup of well matched teams. Spiders’ netminder Amber Ombermoller faced 28 shots, stopping all but the four. And the Spiders put up a whopping 36 shots on the Diablos’ net.

Next up for the Spiders, a short bench for an early-evening game with the Wingmen, Sunday, November 9 at the deluxe accommodations of Biff Adams.