Late-night excess at Highland leads to 7–1 win over Nighthawks

Nov. 7, 2009

With a much-needed bye under their breezer-belts, and much-needed bodies on the bench, the Spiders skated — and shot — their way to victory over the 0–2 Nighthawks.

The first notch in the record book came just 12 seconds into the first period, as center John Pellicci was called for “roughing.” The near-capacity (two late-night stalwarts) Highland crowed thought it looked a lot more like being near someone who fell down, which a quick look in the USA Hockey rulebook didn’t turn up in the penalties section. The previous quickest penalty came way back in 2007, a bench minor for too many men at 15:39 on March 14, 2007, vs. the Thunder Chickens. That one resulted in a goal. Tonight’s, however, established the Spiders’ PK rhythm, which they would have to rely on three more times throughout the night.

Midway through the first, the Spiders got on the board first, with right winger Jim Tuttle scoring his first AHA goal at 9:44, helper to defenseman Chris Pettengill.

The tight game continued through much of the second period, until the Nighthawks’ #20 was called on a delayed roughing defenseman Jeremy Litton in the Spiders’ zone. The remaining Spiders still on their skates broke out and into the Nighthawks’ zone, with center Chris Flannery eventually putting it away on the Nighthawks’ sub goalie, assist to Armel. Per this year’s change in USAH rule 409, the rough still goes on the scoresheet.

Wanting to keep the momentum going, blueliner Luke Baker, in his first game of the season, put in another just 64 seconds later, assist to Armel.

The Nighthawks’ #4 answered right before the second period’s two-minute warning, at 2:01, on an unencumbered shot from the right point, beating Amber through a screen, and climbing back to put the score at 3–1 Spiders. A crosscheck from #19 closed out the second.

The third opened with an unassisted goal by Flannery. He enjoyed it so much, he did it again 51 seconds later, assist to d-man Christian Heitzman, getting Flannery his first career Hat Trick. Not one to let Flannery get all the spotlight, on the next faceoff, Baker took it deep, and backhanded it past the netminder to put the Spiders up an improbable 6–1.

An uneventful power play, then an uneventful high-stick on the doorstep from Flannery put the Spiders back on the PK. The PK unit would only get 31 seconds of work, when the Nighthawks #37 crosschecked Litton from behind, up high and into the boards. Name your penalty. The refs did, twice: checking from behind and a 10-minute misconduct.

Back at full strength, a flurry in front of the net at 4:42 led to a Pellicci goal (scoring streak held up!) and Ackermann assist.

And that’s how it would end, the Spiders get their first win of the season with a 7–1 victory over the Nighthawks, leveling out with a 1–1 record.

And speaking of records, the crowd in the dressing room couldn’t believe their ears when they heard the shot totals. Nor could Amber. Regardless, it’s now in stone: Amber made 43 saves! You read that right, the Nighthawks apparently put 44 shots on net. Not to be outdone, the Spiders put a whopping 49 the other way.

Unfortunately, neither is a Spiders franchise record. The most-shots-on-goal honor goes to a game against the ... Nighthawks? That’s right, the 2005–06 Spiders put up a record 52 shots on goal vs. the Nighthawks, on February 12, 2006. And shots against — that honor goes to the Royals that same year, who put 47 shots on goal on March 25, 2006.

Whatever the number, Amber made dozens of amazing saves, stoned breakaways, plucked roofers out of thin air, and essentially shut down the Nighthawks offense.

Next up for the Spiders, yet another Saturday night game, against the 1–1 Lakers, featuring former Spider Mike “Monty” Montgomery. Puck drops at 9:15 at Richfield, on Nov. 14.