Spiders forecheck too organized for Chaos

Dec. 20, 2010

Game recap by C. Yard

The Spiders and the Chaos met once again, at the cleverly named Richfield Arena, for what is always a tough matchup between the two teams. This time the Spiders came out on top in regulation with a fine destruction of the Chaos team. Even with the short bench of just 11 skaters, the Spiders were able to pour on the forecheck and keep the Chaos pinned in their own zone for nearly the entire game.

The Chaos’ take on the game (source: chaoshockey.net)

The Spiders started out strong right away. Their passes were crisp and tape-to-tape, which is fairly uncommon. Center Mike Johnson started the barrage of goals early with the first goal just 2 minutes 29 seconds into the first period. Mike Schroeder and Jason Freed, in their one-year deal with the Spiders, add assists to their point totals to secure them a contract extension, possibly even signing bonuses and endorsement deals.

The Spiders, winning nearly every face-off, grabbed a goal from the quick hands of Yard. After winning the face-off, Spiders rock-solid defender Rob Droullard set up winger Jake Cison for a one-timer. Cison blasted an end-over-end shot at the net. Yard grabbed out of the air, threw it to his stick and swatted it past the netminder. It was such a quick play that even the camera crews weren’t able to catch a shot of it. Luckily, a fan was able to capture the action and post it to YouTube.

With the early two-goal lead, the Spiders took it right into the second period. The Spiders lines were shuffling throughout the game due to the three centers and only two sets of wings. However, that didn’t stop the Semper Fi line from getting on the board again. This time it was Cory Vandenberghe, getting his long-awaited second goal of the season, burning the goalie with a blistering shot of about five miles per hour. Vandenberghe claims, during the post-game press conference, it was a planned move as he let the puck slide off his stick and right through the five hole of the goalie.

The Spiders were enjoying their three-goal lead. And the Chaos weren’t taking it very well, with Corder jumping into the penalty box for roughing on the following face-off. The Spiders were able to fire the puck on net quite a few times, but the Chaos goalie showed some flashes of great goaltending coming up with some big saves.

Eventually, Cison would make the Chaos, and Corder, pay for the mistake as he battled all four of the Chaos penalty killers before he eventually slammed it past the goalie. Spiders teammates were scared to congratulate Cison after his goal because of the anger that could be seen behind his cage. Even the Spiders netminder Travis Fransen said during his post-game interview that he could see Cison mean-mugging everyone on the ice from the opposite end.

As the Spiders defensemen built a brick wall at the Chaos blue line, Johnson tallied his second of the night with some hard work and the help of Cison.

Yard, Jason Freed and Tim Wahlberg jumped on the ice to take the next shift. They would make it a good one. Droullard maintaining that brick wall at the blue line would set up Yard for his second of the night. Freed would also get an assist on the goal.

Jake “Do-it-Yourself” Cison would eventually grab another goal, unassisted again, with just 41 seconds left in the second period. The Spiders put in five goals in the second period making the score 7–0 going into the third.

The third period would go just like the first and second periods as the Spiders continued their ferocious forecheck foray. The defensemen moved the bricks during intermission and most of the play would continue to happen in the offensive zone. Spiders center Christian Heitzman got into the scoring mood in the third period. Heitzman put on a puck-handling clinic as he battled his way through Chaos defenders and found the back of the net. Cison and Grotbeck get assists on the play.

The next two goals would come from Freed. The first one happened thanks to the hard work of Wahlberg, who dug the puck out of the corner and made a great pass to Yard. Yard centered the puck to Freed, who was wide open in the slot, blowing a one-timer past the Chaos goalie.

From there, the Spiders started to slide a bit. Yard would be called for a tripping penalty behind the play. Wanting to get on the scoresheet any way he could, Flannery was not to be outdone and would get called for tripping in the same play giving the Chaos a 5-on-3 power play. Just 24 seconds into the power play, the Chaos were able to get one by Fransen, making the score 9–1. The Spiders would finish off the 5-on-4 penalty kill.

Somehow, Chaos defenseman Webb was able to escape out of his zone and put one past Fransen.

Freed was able to sneak the puck past the worn-down goalie for a second time as time was nearing expiration with assists going to Jake “Record-Setting” Cison and Yard.

Heitzman, checking stats on the bench, realized the other two centers had two goals apiece. Not to be outdone he went and put in his second of the night with 33 seconds left on the clock.

By the numbers

When it was over, 10 of the 11 Spider skaters had recorded points in the game, for a total of 26, though Flannery still got his name on the board for his two-minute rest in the third.

Fransen’s 51 minutes of TOI amounted to only 13 shots on goal, whereas the Chaos’ Johnson got his money’s worth, 45 shots, making 34 saves.

The Chaos drop to third place, behind the Puck Hounds, at 3–2–2–1 and 9 points.

The Spiders, off to their best start ever, finish out the 2010 portion of the schedule with a perfect 7–0 record in the standings. The Spiders remain the only perfect team in the entire AHA, which paints a big target on the back of the red and white sweaters.

Next up

After the break, the one and only 2010–11 date at the State Fair horse barn, facing the fourth-place Fighting Saints, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. Every paid admission comes with a souvenir Pronto Pup.