Spiders win coveted Insect Trophy, defeating Yellow Jackets 7–2
Nov. 16, 2008
Highlights:
Spiders at Yellow Jackets
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008,
3:10 p.m. – West Side
Game 8
- Spiders final score:
- 7
- Yellow Jackets final score:
- 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiders | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Yellow Jackets | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
The Spiders emerged from the cozy dressing room at West Side with a victory over the Yellow Jackets in today’s sold-out (yes, there was a full bleacher!) matinee against the Yellow Jackets. However, the Yellow Jackets demonstrated why they made the jump to D1 this season, with solid positional play, and more 3-on-1’s and 3-on-2’s against the Spiders than can be counted.
But the Spiders played disciplined hockey today, staying — for the first time this season — out of the penalty box (apparently due to the healthy scratch of defenseman Paul LaCosse). And although they gave up breakouts the Jackets’ way, the play down low in the offense zone meant many a Spider there to pepper the net with shots.
Scoring for the Spiders:
- First period:
- Cory Vandenberghe, with his first Spiders goal, on assist from Mike Johnson and Jay Hilden
- Chris Pettengill, unassisted
- Second period:
- Mike Johnson, with the eventual game-winner, from Chris Pettengill and Jeremy Litton
- Power Play goal by Jay Hilden, with assist from Chris Pettengill (again) and Cory Vandenberghe
- Mike Johnson (again), from Luke Baker (on a four-game point streak)
- Nick Ungaro, with his first Spiders goal, on assist from Chris Flannery
- Third period:
- Bruce Gustafson, on assist from Ryan Herman and Chris Flannery (again)
Game puck goes to Amber Obermoller, who continues to amaze the Spider fans with her performance in net. Amber saw (clearly) 22 shots (8, 6, 8), stopping 20 of them. And on the second Jackets goal, following a delayed penalty call on Chris Pettengill for hooking on the backcheck, the Jackets had a good 25 seconds in which to set up, crowd the net around the confused Spiders, and finally score their second marker.
The Spiders put 25 shots on net (9, 9, 7).
Today was also the debut of new Spider Eric Ackermann, who joins the team on call-up to replace Brad Caron, who is on IR for the remainder of the season. Eric is the goalie for the D2 Maroons, itself loaded with former Spiders.
Besides what made it to the scoresheet, it was also an afternoon of close calls:
- A close-but-no-tripping call on Luke Baker in the first, when a Jacket went flying over Baker’s shot-blocking lunge, landing hard into the back boards.
- Early in the third, four of the Spiders’ defensive corps carried on an extensive conversation on the merits of not pinching so that a D doesn’t get left on his own. Yes, four … of the five Spiders D, leaving Jeremy Litton on a solo shift for the Jackets’ unearned 30-second Power Play. Said the Jackets’ right wing before the next faceoff: “I just thought you guys wanted to give your PK unit a workout.”
- At least three pucks sent into the West Side bleachers, narrowly missing the legion of Spiders/Jackets fans. Plus, the young fans’ attention-keeping beach ball making its way to the ice, dutifully retrieved by Jay Hilden.
- Jeremy Litton’s almost-but-not-quite first goal of the season, snapping a loose Power Play puck at a wide-open net above the Jacket’s flopped goalie in the third, only to be denied by the outturned palm of a Jackets’ defenseman’s glove who moved in behind the goalie.
- Chris Pettengill going down hard on his shoulder, with just under 2 minutes left in the game, but like the Holy Grail’s Black Knight, still had two working knees on which to hobble to the bench. A moment later, Ackermann made sure Chris was still awake by sending an errant puck to a lucky fan who must’ve sat close to Pettengill’s helmet.
- And finally, the last rush of the game, where Mike Johnson came that close to getting showered by hats.
With the win, the Spiders improve to 2–0–2, and the Yellow Jackets, with their first loss of the season, fall to 2–1–1. The Spiders are 3–0 lifetime against the Yellow Jackets in Spiders franchise history. The two teams last met in the 2006–07 season.
Next up for the Spiders, the first-place Royals (3–1–0), who were dealt their first loss this season yesterday by the Wingmen. The Spiders lifetime record against the Royals? 0–6, with a 6–53 scoring differential.
For details, see the box score and game summary.
Game media
Game photos, courtesy Eli (president of the Amber fan club):
Mike Johnson (42) wins the face-off to Chris Pettengill (30), with Brian Armagost (77; left) and Cory Vandenberghe (82; elbow) supporting.
Amber Obermoller, wondering what happened to her defense.
The Spiders stare inappropriately at Herman’s new orange stick.
The Spiders playing some one-way hockey. From left, Nick Ungaro (19), Aaron Bedessem (13), Brian Armagost (77), Rob Droullard (9), Luke Baker (6), Amber Obermoller (34).
