Spiders lose a close one in first game of season

Oct. 29, 2006

The Spiders kicked off the 2006–07 season tonight against the Ak Bars. Despite it being a close game, the Ak Bars came out on top 4–3.

The Spiders showed a bit of rust tonight, and matched up against the strong-forechecking Ak Bars, the Spiders didn’t get enough chances to come out ahead. Goalkeeper Jeff Keacher kept the Spiders in the game, essentially through the second and third periods.

The 3–3 tie was broken by none other than Jim Marshall defenseman Jeremy Litton, who deflected an Ak Bars shot off his skate into the Spiders goal to break the tie, at 2:14 in the second period. Needless to say, the Ak Bars awarded Litton with the game puck.

In the final minute of the third period, the Spiders pulled goalkeeper Jeff Keacher. Despite a flurry of shots, the Spiders couldn’t get one past The Ak Bars’ The Wall Cain.

Scoring for the Spiders tonight:

• First period:
  • Center Dave Schliesman from left wing Lee Martini (who also has his work cut out for him if he wants to retain his dressing room title from Schlies) at 5:04.
  • New Spider defenseman Ryan Herman, from the faceoff from Dave Schliesman.
• Second period:
  • On the Power Play, Bruce Gustafson from Doug Thorson.

And despite veteran cooler dweller Paul LaCosse’s absence tonight, the Spiders still managed to rack up the PIMs:

• First period, at 7:12, Bruce Gustafson for interference. This one led to an Ak Bars goal.
• Second period, at 9:25, new Spider center Mike Armel, for hooking.
• Second period, at 3:12, Bruce Gustafson (again!) for tripping.

They were, as always, innocent (well, wrong-place-wrong-time Bruce really was!).

Goalkeeper Jeff Keacher stopped 34 out of 38 shots on goal, including stopping a three-on-none and a two-on-none!