Spiders earn shutout at the Great Minnesota Get-Together

Jan. 14, 2007

The Spiders proved they were back in their pre-holiday break form, putting up a blue-ribbon performance against the Fighting Saints tonight at the Coliseum. Those who braved the snow tonight (including the capacity crowd of three) were rewarded with seeing Jeff Keacher’s first shutout of the season.

The Spiders faced former Spider Eric Anderson in net for the Fighting Saints tonight, and gave him a good workout. The Spiders had 34 shots on goal, with eight of them finding the back of the bump-prone net tonight.

After a 3–0 lead going into the second, and 4–0 into the third, the Spiders switched up the lines, sending defensemen Mike Montgomery and Marc Berris up to the wings, and centers Dave Schliesman and Doug Thorson back to the blue line. As a famous philosopher once said, “you can put a center back at D, but you can’t take the center out of the city,” or something to that effect. Dave and Doug would prove the point, continuing to pressure the net, and Doug getting a goal and an assist during his blue-line stint.

On the scoresheet tonight:

• In the first period:
  • Dave Schliesman from Jim Maietta
  • Jim Maietta from Dave Schliesman
  • (and once more in case you missed it) Dave Schliesman from Jim Maietta
• In the second period:
  • Doug Thorson from Jeremy Litton
• In the third period:
  • Ryan Herman, unassisted
  • Bruce Gustafson, from Brian Armagost
  • Doug Thorson, unassisted
  • Bruce Gustafson from Doug Thorson and Bob Jensen

The penalty stall in the Coliseum was quiet tonight, with a not-guilty Mike Montgomery going for cross-checking in the second period. The near-perfect 2006–07 PK unit did its job again.

And finally, with his first shutout of the season, Jeff Keacher stopped all 18 shots that came his way (5,9,4). Congratulations Jeff! (This was the Spiders’ second shutout of the season, with the first — also at the Coliseum — with Jay Weiner in as sub-goalie.)