Spiders hold back the Knights, Schlais nets Hat Trick

Jan. 10, 2010

Gametime temps on the ice at Oscar Johnson were lower than the “warmup” outside. But the Spiders heated things up, as soon as their fingers thawed, and dominated a game against the last-place Knights. The 5–1 score going into the third, identical to the Wild’s against the Blackhawks last night, did give the Knights inspiration to mount a comeback, putting the score closer. But the Spiders did a lot of things right, according to newly acquired bench coach Jay Hilden.

It was first-year RW Eric Schlais who did things right the most tonight. Without a point in his first seven games this season, Schlais lit up the Knight like a man possessed. His first, at just under two minutes into the game, was a bang in front of the netminder, though Schlais convinced his linemates and the Spider bench that it was no goal based on his reaction (or lack thereof). His next two, one in the second, and the Knightcap in the third, had celebrations worthy of his accomplishment. In fact, the hat rained down on the frigid ice following his final marker.

Overall, scoring went as follows:

First period:

• Schlais, from Ackermann and Pellicci
• Ungaro, from Heitzman and Herman

Second period:

• Heitzman, from Schlais
• Schlais, unassisted
• Pellicci, from Baker

Third period:

• Flannery, from Armel
• Herman, from Pellicci
• Schlais, from Ackermann

In the penalty department, the Knights started things off, with an interference call drawn by D Jeremy Litton’s head, neck and spine. Just over a minute later, the ref would even things up, by suggesting to Armel that he consider perhaps going to the box for his ever-so-slightly late slash of the goalie’s glove. LaCosse got his customary call for interference just under a minute later, eventually giving the Knights a 5-on-3, though the PK was up to the task, even getting some shorthanded chances back on the 5-on-4. In the third, C Ackermann went off for a vicious trip along the boards. Again, the PK unit was in top form.

The Knights were no strangers in the scoreboard though. The first came at 11:49 in the second, when a puck from the right circles was stopped by second-year netminder Obermoller, but fluttered in slow motion to the pipe. D Pettengill made a valiant effort to pull it away from the goal line, but it made it in. In the third, the Knights’ Sparry would get two in a single shift, with one being a snipe that will be seen on ESPN highlights through the Knight. The final came on a broken defensive play, with both C Flannery and D Litton flat on their backs in the net behind Obermoller. He couldn’t verify, but Litton believes he shoved the puck under Obermoller’s leg pad right to a waiting Knight, who flipped it over the pile of bodies. It was Litton’s only assist of the Knight.

Final score: 8–4.

Dr. Rob did get called to duty twice, once for a vicious pre-game locker-room argument, that resulted in a nasty laceration to Pettengill’s finger. The second, in the second period, when the ref took a frozen puck to the rib cage.

With this win, the Spiders improve to 3–6 and will move, albeit temporarily, to tied for 7th place, awaiting results from the Lakers/Sled Dogs matchup across the street at the Coliseum. The Knights remain in 11th place, at 0–8–1.

Coming up for the Spiders, an Eden Prairie homestand, finishing out the last of the first half of the season, playing the Fighting Ice Fish, whom the Spiders scrimmaged prior to the season. The two teams last faced each other officially in the 2008–09 playoffs, where they skated to a 2–2 tie at New Hope. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 17.