Spiders come from behind to beat arch rival Ak Bars

Feb. 4, 2007

The Spiders woke up in the third period tonight, coming back from behind to earn their first win over the arch rival (and good friends) Ak Bars.

The lone AHA game on Super Bowl Sunday found the Spiders in a late-night matchup against the Ak Bars, the team that the Spiders have always played close, but never beat (in three previous games). Tonight’s first two periods were seemingly heading in the same direction, with no offense to speak of but for four shots a piece each period. Down 1–0 on a fluke squeaker into the side of the net by the Spiders own Lee Martini (the second time this season the Spiders have given a goal to the Ak Bars; the first in the first game of the season when defenseman Jeremy Litton deflected an Ak Bars centering pass right into the goal).

In the third, however, the offense woke up. Had the Super Bowl festivities and buffalo wings dipped in chili con queso finally worn off? First up, Center Dave Schliesman found the net on a Lee Martini rebound, finally beating the Ak Bars’ netminder Trey “The Wall” Cain. Next, Lee Martini scored another, assisted by Schliesman. Things were finally looking up, with the Spiders now ahead 2–1. The excitement wouldn’t last, when the Ak Bars scored out of a mess in front of the net, tying the game, tying the game at 2 each.

The Spiders hopes were further dashed by a rocket from the right point that found the net through a triple screen of goalie Jeff Keacher.

But, remembering the fundamental breakout pattern, the Spiders would get back in the game at 4:03 when defenseman Brian Armagost passed up to right wing Bob Jensen, who passed to left wing Bruce Gustafson, who sniped the top right corner from just inside the blue line.

The game now tied, would it go to overtime? Ryan Herman answered the question, when at 1:28, he moved up the boards, and took a perfect pass from Jim Maietta and Lee Martini and banged it in, giving the Spiders a one-goal lead with just under a minute and a half to play.

Just to make it interesting, veteran cooler-dweller Paul LaCosse got called for interference (despite getting interfered in the first place… so yes, he was innocent), with a minute left in the game. So the renowned Spiders penalty-killing unit would get its chance to prove its worth, having already killed off three penalties in the game.

The Spiders won the faceoff and were able to control the puck until about 10 seconds left, when the Ak Bars mounted as much of a rush as they could, but couldn’t get a clear shot. And that was it. The Spiders emerged victorious 4–3. And Lee Martini, who started it off for the Ak Bars, more than made up for it, with a three-point game!

Scoring for the Spiders:

• First period:
  • No one…
• Second period:
  • Nada…
• Third period:
  • Dave Schliesman, from Lee Martini
  • Lee Martini, from Dave Schliesman
  • Bruce Gustafson, from Bob Jensen and Brian Armagost
  • The game-winner: Ryan Herman, from Jim Maietta and Lee Martini

Penalties:

• First period:
  • Mike Armel, for interference
• Second period:
  • Dave Schliesman, for hooking
• Third period:
  • Mark Franklin, for checking (and trying to catch up to…)
  • Paul LaCosse, for interference

Of course, they were all innocent this time.

Jeff Keacher won the game for the Spiders by turning away shot after shot from the relentless Ak Bars, who controlled the puck most of the first and second periods, and had plenty of chances in the third as the Spiders built their leads. Jeff saw a total of 31 shots (7, 10, 14).