Spiders open post-season with victory

March 31, 2009

With the previous penalty-filled loss to the Lumberjacks only three weeks old, the Spiders knew they would be tested by the team that represented the only regulation loss of the 2008–09 season. Turns out, the same USAH officiating crew that worked the previous game also showed up to the Plymouth C rink — albeit a bit late — to witness the rematch.

Unlike the last game though, the Lumberjacks would have their All-Star netminder Chad Jayasekera cheering from the bleachers rather than turning away Spider shots, due to a knee injury. In his place, sub goalie Jenn Colling, who also filled in for Jayasekera in the first Spiders/Lumberjacks game of the season, which resulted in a deadlock 2–2.

When the officials finally took the ice, they were able to witness the first 12 seconds of a sideboard rush by defenseman Jay Hilden off the opening draw. And also unlike the last game, in which a first-shift scoring chance by the Vandenberghe-Bedessem-Flannery line was immediately stuffed by Jayasekera, Hilden’s shot on goal found its way under Colling’s leg pad and beyond the goal line. Assist to Vandenberghe and Bedessem.

Playing with the lead, the Spiders continued to pressure, putting 11 shots on goal in the first period, though none would light the PIC lamp.

Into the second frame, around the three-minute mark, Bedessem finally collected a rebound in the crease and sent it into the top right corner and in. The ref, however, despite being in position, was cleaning his glasses at the time and, though he didn’t wave it off, just announced that it was no goal after conferring with the Lumberjacks netminder for her input. His oft-repeated explanation to the Spiders: “I’m sorry. I didn’t see it go in.” So rather than establishing hockey’s coveted two-goal lead, the Spiders went back to work.

The work paid off when, at 13:27, Flannery to Bedessem, Spiders 2–0. Duly witnessed by the ref.

Continuing through a 14-shot second period, center Chris Pettengill put a backhand shot clinic on, and followed it up with an insurance marker at 7:59. Spiders 3–0.

The rust of the past two weeks off for both teams began to show through as the second period wore on, with feet not exactly quick, and passes not exactly crisp. Plus, a scrum in front, to the side, and behind the Spiders’ net — what seemed like a good 45 seconds — gave the Lumberjacks their best scoring opportunities, and spent what was left of the Spiders’ backchecking gas.

To close out the second, Cory Vandenberghe got called for raising his stick above the shin (high sticking) with 2:30 remaining, giving the Lumberjacks some life as they went on the power play. But the Spiders’ PK unit was ready to go, killing off 48 seconds of it until Aaron “I just draw penalties” Bedessem drew a body check to even it up at 4-on-4 (though no one told Armagost) to close out the second.

In the third, the Lumberjacks switched to desperation mode, floating a forward hoping for a breakaway, and ended up with numerous chances in the slot. In the process they also drew another penalty, this time for interference drawn by a pinching defenseman Jeremy Litton. With just a single shot by the Spiders during the power play, the Lumberjacks turned on, and at 6:56, with traffic around, behind, and eventually in front of the net, their leading scorer Darin Hargreaves snapped one that deflected off defenseman Jay Hilden’s stick and ricocheted in behind netminder Amber Obermoller.

The score now 3–1, and just under 7 minutes remaining, the play continued to be up and back. But the Spiders continued to backcheck, with Amber seeing only four shots get through in the third, including one that didn’t due to left wing Eric Ackermann forgetting he wasn’t playing goalie, who went down to stop a Chicky Stimac snapper. And another close one, a pop fly from the top of the circles had Amber trying out her outfielder’s jump (in full goalie gear), but it made it over her glove and bounced off the back of the net.

With time winding down, center Mike Johnson got yet another insurance marker for the Spiders, with assist from Brian Armagost and Nick Ungaro, with 3:54 remaining. Spiders 4–1. And, since it was a Lumberjack game, the officials called a final penalty, this time drawn by Brian Armagost, body checking at 1:28 remaining.

With the power play for the remainder of the game, once the Spiders were able to get possession of the puck, they controlled the final minute and skated away to victory.

Spiders 4–1, and a 1–0 record in the playoff standings. Plus, a 2–1–1 season record vs. the Lumberjacks (and 2–3–1 lifetime).

In total, Obermoller saw 20 shots (6, 10, 4), and the Spiders put 35 (11, 14, 10) on Colling.

Next up, it’s game 2 of the round-robin playoffs, vs. the D1 West third-place Ice Gators, who incidentally were playing on the Plymouth B rink tonight next door, and beat the Fighting Ice Fish (the Spiders’ game 3 opponent), by a score of 4–2. Puck drops early at BIG, with a 6 p.m. start, as long as the refs are there.