Spiders claim first place with win at Old Dutch Giveaway Night in Richfield

Nov. 23, 2008

The crowd of two (a Spiders faithful fan and the janitor) saw not only a chipfest on the ice tonight, but a dramatic come-from-behind win that featured two shorthanded goals from the Spider PK unit.

Coming into tonight’s matchup, the Royals and Spiders were tied for first in D1 East. However, the Vegas line had the Royals as a sure bet, given their strong wins so far this season (3–1), plus the fact that the Royals have had the Spiders’ number for the entire franchise’s history, handily winning all six prior matchups, with scoring differential of 6–53.

True to form, the Royals came out strong, beating the out-of-position D and goalkeeper Amber Obermoller just 24 seconds into the game. Moments later, while trying to clear the puck back behind the net, defenseman Paul LaCosse caught the thigh of the ref with the flipped puck, causing a lengthy delay while the ref caught his bearings. However, he also caught his wits, reminding the Spiders that he wasn’t open for a pass.

And thus began the Spiders’ parade to the penalty box, which by night’s end would see the Spiders racking up eight gate calls (18 PIM) to the Royals’ two. The Spiders would spend 15:08 — almost an entire period — of the game shorthanded.

But perhaps it was the adversity that inspired the Spiders to take advantage of the situation, and turn the PK into an offensive juggernaut.

Down 2–0, following a Royals Power Play goal after Michael Armel’s slashing call late in the first, Mike tore back to the ice and, with just 29 seconds remaining in the first, cut the lead in half, 2–1.

The Royals regained their two-goal lead just two minutes into the second. And at 8:36, the Spiders (finally) got called for too many men, the third penalty of the game. But it was this infraction that got the Spiders started. And at 7:34, with the patience of a saint, on a break away, Aaron Bedessem outlasted the goalie and drove it home, on assist from Brian Armagost, for the first shorthanded goal of the season for the Spiders. 3–2 Royals.

Following another Spiders penalty, this one by Ryan Herman, not one to let Armel take all the post-penalty glory, scored at 1:46 left of the second, on assist from Bedessem. Tie game!

Just 20 seconds later, breaking out from the the Spiders’ zone, the crowd witnessed a coast-to-coast mugging by the Royals’ D on Nick Ungaro, which including him getting his glove slashed off at the redline. But he wiggled his way across the blue line, and darted toward the net, still being mugged, but knocked the puck home under the goalie. The highlight-reel goal of the week and what would be the game winner. Spiders up 4–3.

Into the third, a Spiders’ hooking penalty by Cory Vandenberghe was negated 27 seconds later by the first Royals gate call. And as soon the Spiders brief Power Play expired, the Royals were called again for cross-checking, at 14:05.

Apparently not comfortable with the Power Play, the Spiders’ defenseman Jeremy Litton asked nicely (with his shoulder) to be sent to the cooler. Not nice enough, however, since he got a four-minute double minor for roughing at 12:45. The resulting 40 seconds of 4-on-4 and 3:20 of penalty kill would test the Spiders’ determination to hold the one-goal lead. They passed, and Vandenberghe, having seen Herman and Armel make up for their penalties with goals, followed suit, giving the Spiders a two-goal margin with 8:15 remaining.

Since the Spiders were on the ice for the rest of the game, they got called for penalties. First, Paul LaCosse for hooking at 6:41, which was successfully killed off, and Ryan Herman (third call of the game! Sorry Spiders’ fans, not a record. That honor is owned by none other than Ryan Herman...), with 1:39 remaining. Again, the Spiders appeared to control the puck for this kill as well, and sure enough, on a pass from new Spider Eric Ackermann, Chris Pettengill sent it toward the net from the point, caught a deflection and the puck dinged loudly off the back bar of the net, putting icing on the Spiders’ victory cake, and setting a new Spiders record for most shorthanded goals in a game (and season, for that matter). Final score 6–3.

The Spiders’ netminder Amber Obermoller could’ve given the defense the night off the way she held the Spiders in this game, seeing 29 shots (10, 10, 9), stopping 26. The Spiders’ offense put a whopping 35 on the Royals net (8, 13, 14).

With the win, the Spiders gain sole possession of first place in D1 East, with 8 points, and a 3–0–2 record. The Royals drop to be tied for third, with a 3–2 record.

Next up for the Spiders, Family Night on St. Paul’s East Side, at Harding Arena, this Saturday, vs. former Spider Eric Anderson and the Fighting Saints.