Fighting Saints claim first-ever win over Spiders, 2–1
Dec. 1, 2012
Spiders at Fighting Saints
Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012,
7:45 p.m. – Richfield 1
Game 5 (AHA game 1740)
- Spiders final score:
- 1
- Fighting Saints final score:
- 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiders | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Fighting Saints | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Thanksgiving bye week did no favors for Spiders offense, defense or penalty abilities.
History was made at Richfield 1 tonight, where the Fighting Saints, in nine games vs. the Spiders since 2007, finally claimed a victory, moving the lifetime franchise record to 8–1 for the Spiders.
Whether it was the two weeks off over Thanksgiving, the shortest bench of the season (13), the ill-sharpened skates on too many Spiders’ feet, or the lack of penalty calls after the first period in what turned to a more physical game than the Spiders had seen this season, in the end, the Spiders couldn’t overcome the one-goal hole they dug in the third period.
The lone Spider tally came from Andy Schwinn, assists to George Farner and giving-right-wing-a-try-for-tonight Eric Grotbeck. The rest of the 28 shots (10, 7, 11), many point blank off rebounds, never got past Jen Stone, backup goaltender for the Fighting Saints, who traded their longtime goalie in the off-season, former Spider Eric Anderson.
The Saints managed 19 shots on Bill McCormick (5, 8, 6), who made some incredible saves, and did his best to make up for the sloppy backcheck in front of him.
The Spiders pulled netminder McCormick with 45 seconds to go, and racked up a few chances, but nothing doing, and the game ended 2–1.
In the penalty department, the striped crew had the whistles going early and often in the first period, sending LaCosse and Pappone to the box, as well as two Saints. Then, at first intermission, they apparently left their whistles on the scorekeepers’ desk, as not a peep was heard the rest of the game, despite plenty of opportunity to hand out two-minute sits.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Fighting Saints | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Mastodons | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Spiders | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Diablos | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Ak Bars | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sled Dogs | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Icedogs | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
With the loss, the three-way tie for second place, which included the Spiders, the Mastodons and the Fighting Saints, will shake the Spiders to fourth place for the time being, with a 3–2 record.
Next up, another Saturday evening game, this time the Diablos (1–3–1; fifth place), at a rare Hopkins Pavillion game. Puck drops at 7:10.
For details, see the box score and game summary.
Game media
Game photos courtesy Fighting Saints (http://cf22.smugmug.com/Sports/Fighting-Saints-Hockey-Dec-1st/26845803_4FC456)
Cory Vandenberghe (82) in his 2012–13 debut with C3 squad.
The Dogs were convinced the puck snuck under McCormick, but video review shows otherwise.
Perfect pokecheck by McCormick (1) following non-call on Litton (14).
Farner (27) and Schwinn (17) get in tight at the goal line while the Saints’ defender signals at least a yard to first down marker.
Infield fly rule?
Fighting Saints get on the board halfway through the third.
Spiders’ last-gasp chance late in the third.
