Sled Dogs clean sweep Spiders for season

March 18, 2007

The Sled Dogs proved tonight why they’ve been at or near D2 East first place most of the season: spectacular goalkeeping and quick-attack offense. Although the Spiders put on a far better performance than the two teams’ first meeting of the season, the Sled Dogs still dominated, establishing an early lead, and defending it throughout the game. While the Spiders would solve the riddle of the Sled Dogs’ goalkeeper five times tonight, it wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit. Add a generous helping of Spiders penalty minutes, and you have a recipe for tonight’s 7–5 loss.

While the Spiders were statistically out of the post-season running, they still came out wanting to erase the memory of the previous meeting with Sled Dogs, which resulted in a season- and team-record 10 penalties, and one lone goal. Despite the officiating crew’s best effort, the Spiders racked up just six penalties tonight, though it would still be their downfall, spending more time killing and less time scoring.

As has been the Spiders pattern much of the season, especially when facing strong opponents, the Spiders spotted the Dogs a quick three-goal advantage in just six and half minutes, the first just over two minutes into the game. With just over eight minutes left in the first, Dave Schliesman, newly back at defense tonight, cut the Dogs lead to two on an unassisted goal. But under a minute later, the Dogs answered back, pushing the score up to 4–1.

To close out the first, the Spiders drew two successive penalties, and were rewarded with a 5-on-3 advantage for the remainder of the first. The advantage started out rough, with the Dogs pressing at their blue line, nearly forcing a turnover. But an outlet pass to the point, and with just 23 seconds left in the first, Dave Schliesman would get his second marker of the night. Not to be outdone, still with the man-advantage, just seven seconds later, Jim Maietta would get another Power Play goal, on assist by Brad Caron, putting Spiders to within one.

However, with the second period began the Spiders’ penalty woes, getting called four times for various offenses, ranging from being skated into (hooking), being skated over (tripping), being in close proximity to falling Dogs (cross-checking). Innocent? Always. Fortunately, only one of the penalties (defenseman Jeremy Litton’s) would lead to goal for the Dogs, with the Spiders killing off the other three. But, spending all that time on the PK left little time for offense, and Spiders would come out empty-handed in the goals department.

In the third, like the second, two more Spiders penalties, both on center Jim Maietta, the second leading to another Dogs goal, putting the score at 6–3. After a couple of nice rests, Jim came out with three and a half minutes to go, to get another score, on assist by Lee Martini.

As the third wound down, the Spiders pulled goalkeeper Jeff Keacher, which unfortunately led to an empty-netter for the Dogs, putting the score at 7–4. One last gasp, with 36 seconds to go, Lee Martini beat the Dogs goalie, on assist from Jim Maietta, to put the final score at 7–5.

The Spiders’ first-period generosity in spotting the opponent three goals, combined with high-caliber goaltending — even with Spiders game plan of shots, shots, shots, in fact outshooting the Dogs 41–32, including 18–10 in the first period — led to the second loss of the season to the Sled Dogs.

Scoring summary

• First period:
  • Dave Schliesman, unassisted
  • Dave Schliesman (again), unassisted, on the Power Play
  • Jim Maietta, assisted by Brad Caron, on the Power Play
• Third period:
  • Jim Maietta, from Lee Martini
  • Lee Martini, from Jim Maietta

Penalties summary:

• First period
  • None!
• Second period:
  • Paul LaCosse, hooking
  • Jeremy Litton, tripping
  • Michael Armel, cross-checking
  • Lee Martini, tripping
• Third period:
  • Jim Maietta, interference
  • Jim Maietta (again), roughing

Jeff Keacher faced 32 Sled Dogs shots (10, 12, 10), stopping 25, and the Spiders put up 41 shots (18, 10, 13).

Notably: This game marks the end of left wing Ben Tesch’s two-year career with the Spiders. It has been reported that Ben has signed a lucrative minor league contract with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, effective immediately. Au revoir, Ben!

Game media

BenchCam™ game photos