Spiders fly past Jets for 6–4 win

Nov. 26, 2006

The crowd at New Hope Arena tonight saw the Spiders and the Jets put on an exciting game that could’ve gone either way. In the end, a key third period penalty kill and strong goalkeeping ensured the Spiders would prevail.

Facing a strong Jets team, the game was a testament to the improved fundamentals of the 2006–07 Spiders. The lead was exchanged three times, and the game was tied at 2 for most of the third period. But the Spiders hung in there and kept up their game, and ended up putting the Jets down by 1 with 4:48 to go in the third period. A minute later, right wing Jim Maietta was called for tripping, giving the Jets a Power Play and a chance to tie the game. However, a strong PK, including strong saves by goalkeeper Jeff Keacher, locked out the Jets.

With just under two minutes to go, and the Spiders ahead 5–4, the Spiders kicked up the defense. The Spiders’ own jet, Doug Thorson got a breakaway and drew a tripping call — with a penalty shot — with 49 seconds to go. But Jets’ goalkeeper (and Spiders occasional sub) Chris Trinh stoned Thorson. On the ensuing faceoff, the Jets pulled the goalie for the one-man advantage to try to tie up the game. Jeff Keacher made a close — too close — save on a surprise backhand by the Jets, sending Keacher to the ice bemoaning the current state of protective technologies. Seeing no backup on the bench, Jeff went back to work, and the Spiders defense ended up keeping the Jets out of the net. A neutral zone clampdown in the last 30 seconds kept the Jets out of scoring position, and center Dave Schliesman was able to send a final goal from the left point into the empty net.

Scoring for the Spiders tonight:

• In the first period:
  • No one — the Jets racked up two unanswered goals in the first.
• In the second:
  • Dave Schliesman, unassisted
  • Lee Martini, from Ryan Herman
  • Jim Maietta, unassisted
  • On the Power Play, Ryan Herman from Bob Jensen
• In the third:
  • Breaking the 4–4 tie, Lee Martini, from defenseman Brian Armagost (first assist of the season!) and Dave Schliesman
  • With 13 seconds to go, Dave Schliesman into the empty net.

Two of the Spiders’ four penalties tonight were offsetting, meaning the PK unit got less work than usual. And surprisingly, Paul LaCosse never saw the inside of the penalty box tonight!

• In the second:
  • Dave Schliesman, for cross-checking
• In the third:
  • Jim Maietta, for tripping
  • Brian Armagost, for roughing
  • Jim Maietta (again), for tripping

Of course, they were innocent.

Goalkeeper Jeff Keacher saw 30 shots tonight (8, 9, 13), stopping 26 of them. And more importantly, got the W.

In all, a good close game that showed the Spiders can compete at the upper levels of our division.