Spiders lose to Stars, but show signs of life

Jan. 19, 2008

For only the fourth time this year, the Spiders, which benefited from a full complement of bench coaching staff tonight at the Coliseum, scored first and held the lead for over seven minutes in the first, a rare accomplishment for the Spiders of recent weeks!

Despite being outnumbered by the Stars (2–7–1–1), the Spiders (2–9), coming off last week’s also outnumbered blowout, played a strong period-and-a-half of hockey, marked by crisp passing, solid positional play and actual breakouts. The hard work in the first led to a goal by center Dave Schaefer, his first of the season, who busted into the Stars’ zone off a center-ice pass by defenseman Jeremy Litton, and beat the Stars’ top-notch goalie Jay Weiner to put the Spiders up 1–0 at 2:53 in the first.

The Spiders would hold the lead until 10:16, when the Stars tied it 1–1. The teams exchanged penalties to close out the first, including an overeager Spiders’ bench getting six guys out on the Power Play, which was summarily negated. The infraction was served by sub left wing Bruce Gustafson.

The tie wouldn’t last long into the second period, when the Stars went up by one marker just 3:09 into the period. Following offsetting penalties at 8:39, with one by goalkeeper Mike Derer, who got speared after the play (this one served by defenseman John McGrane), the rapidly-getting-gassed Spiders would hold on until 11:57 into the second, by which the Stars had started shooting (pardon the pun) around the Coliseum ice, taking over the game, extending their lead to two, at 3–1.

The Stars found the net three consecutive times in the third, closing the door on the Spiders, 6–1.

However, center Aaron Bedessem, who had solid chances all night, wasn’t about to let the night end, when he scored unassisted with 4:32 remaining in the third.

The final, 6–2. Goalkeeper Mike Derer stopped a tremendous 26 shots on goal; while the Spiders put a respectable 20 on the Stars’ net.

The Stars improve to 3–7–1–1. The Spiders retain their cellar status, at 2–10. Next up, the Spiders take on the second-place Royals (8–1–1–1), who shut out the Spiders 9–0 in their previous meeting.