Spiders hang on for 6–5 win over Blade Runners

Jan. 8, 2023

The first game of 2023 was a track meet.

The Spiders returned from the new year bye, as the schedule turned back over to face the Blade Runners, the first game ending in a 5–4 OT win (with Berman getting the GWOTG, as astute Spider fans noted).

Unlike that game, where the Blade Runners got out ahead and the Spiders clawed back, Sunday’s game at New Hope was the opposite, the Spiders put up a three-goal first period, first by Long from Ungaro and Farner, then the next to by a pinching Andres (Johnson and Kato) and a turnover breakaway by Sommerness, both of whom were already warmed up by playing earlier in the day.

The second though saw the Blade Runners wake up, bookending a pair around Berman’s snipe (from Sommerness and Kato). 4–2 after 2.

The solo ref finally got to use his whistle in the last minute of the second though, and he’d get plenty of reps in the third, flagging Grotbeck for a hat trick of penalties.

On the scoring front, the Blade Runners pulled within a goal, only to be answered by a diving rebound recovery goal by Ronneberg to restore the most dangerous lead in hockey. And halfway through the period, Long bough the Spiders more insurance (from Ungaro and Kato, with his third apple of the evening), and a comfortable three-goal margin and 7 minutes to go.

The trouble started with Farner getting Cory some new raw materials at 3:15, and as usual, the Spiders should’ve declined, as the Blade Runners’ leading scorer #6 capitalized shorthanded right after the puck drop, even though Toronto would show the red light never came on. That’s the first shorty the Spiders have allowed this season (though the Spiders did owe the Blade Runners from the first game, since they notched a record-setting three that night... and the ref had whistled a live puck dead on a golden opportunity for the Blade Runners just prior).

And in the waning seconds, with Grotbeck in the box again, #6 capitalized once more to narrow the margin to just one.

But on the ensuing faceoff, although the play was in the Spider zone, the Blade Runners never fully gained possession, and the clock salted away the Spiders’ narrow victory.

Spiders eke out the 6–5 win.

That’s four W’s in a row for the Spiders (6–4), and earns a tie for third place in C3 West with the Mallards — though the Spiders would get the tiebreaker in head-to-head … definitely not in PIM, where the Spiders hold a comfortable 101% margin over the next C3 West team, at the midway point of the season. There are only two other teams in the entire (federal) league with more PIM, the C1 Sharks (115), and the Charlestown (B2) Chiefs, with their old-time hockey racking up 121 PIM.

Next up for the Spiders, a rematch with the Fighting Loons (7th place; 3–4–1–2) next Sunday night. The previous game went the Loons’ way 5–2.

Puck drop at 9:30 Sunday at Highland.