Grudge Match: Spiders hit by freight train, lose 3-2

April 4, 2009

In a rematch from earlier in the day, the Zephyrs exact revenge by edging out the Spiders in tight, tough battle.

From the opening draw to the final buzzer, the Spiders and Zephyrs exchanged blows as they grinded, clawed and fought for every loose puck. The back-and-forth rematch was eerily similar to to that of Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa...

It was the Spiders who drew first blood as centerman Dave Schliesman came blazing in all alone beating the Zephyr netminder. Spiders take the early rounds. Near the midway point, the Zephrys catch a break as LW Brad (who says I won’t hit a girl) Butalla gets flagged for hauling down the Zephyr prom queen. The Spiders hung tough and were able to kill off the penalty. It was beginning to look like a carbon copy of the earlier game when at the 10 minute mark the Zephyrs shifted the momentum by putting one past the Spider wall. They followed up with another quick one and the first period ended with the Zephyrs up 2-1.

In the middle rounds the teams continued to exchange blows. As the game continued to get more and more physical, the penalty minutes began to mount for both teams. The momentum began to shift back in the Spiders favor as they outshot the Zephyrs 12-6 in the second period and while all 3 judges had the Spiders ahead on the fightcard, at the end of the period they were still behind on the scoreboard.

The Spiders maintained momentum and stayed on the attack early in the third. On the power-play, the Spiders were penetrating when all of the sudden the Zephyrs delivered a crushing blow as they picked up a short-handed goal. The Spider comeback began just a minute later when Maietta buried a backhand off a feed from Schliesman. Watch out fight fans...this is play-off hockey Spider style! The red tidal wave continued throughout the 3rd. The Zephry net-minder was standing on his head making highlight reel save after highlight reel save. As time wound down, the Spiders emptied their net in favor of the extra attacker.... Plenty of chances, no success.

Websters dictionary defines dedication as: Self-sacrificing devotion! No one exemplified spider devotion like #96 Tim Stalpes. During the 1st period of the early game Tim suffered a cracked medial malleoulus (broken ankle). Five periods later he is still out their on the field of battle laying it on the line for his Spider brethren.

In a related story, across town the Woodbury PD had a sting operation in effect and broke up a big gambling ring/poker party. Who can post bail so we get #33 back next season.

Great season, boys. Thanks for the laughs. See you in the fall.