Spiders battle from behind, only to end up in OT stalemate with Maroons

March 25, 2010

The Spiders faced off tonight at Breck against the Maroons, who were just a point behind in the standings and, along with the Spiders, still in the running for the post-season. The outcome of this game would likely be a major factor for one team’s strong finish, and the other team’s tee-time calendar.

The weekday late-evening start at Breck ensured a sluggish start for both teams. It was the Spiders would startle awake first, just 39 seconds in, with Aaron Bedessem putting the Spiders up by one, assist to Christian Heitzman. But it was back to sleep, as the Maroons put three consecutive markers in, the first two by outnumbering the Spiders down low, and the third a snipe from the top of the circle. Spiders down 3–1.

In the second, with Tuttle in the box for getting skated into (complete with demonstration on the ref’s interpretation), the Spiders thought they scored a shorthanded tally, but the refs thought otherwise.

The rest of the second had the Maroons in the box three consecutive times, but their PK — and especially their sub netminder Colling — was up to the task. The officials, on the other hand, had their share of confusion, scrambling for a rulebook to check on the definition of intentional offsides, faceoff placement, and any tips for getting out of the way of the puck.

Opening the third, the Spiders found their shovels and began to dig out of the two-goal hole. At 15:27, a point blast from Ryan Herman was picked up by Eric Schlais, who got the Spiders to a one-goal difference. At 14:39, Bedessem would sit for high-sticking, evened up 1:18 later on an interference call drawn by Litton. The Spiders couldn’t capitalize on the remaining shortened power play, but they did have momentum. That carried into a perfect setup from Flannery to Heitzman on the doorstep, who this time had a lot less net to work with, but roofed it over the goalkeeper to tie the game at 3, with just under 9 minutes remaining.

Newly energized, the Spiders got to expend all their energy on the PK, with Johnson (high-sticking), Pellicci (interference) and Bedessem (again, for interference) bulk of the remaining minutes of the third in the bin, including 30 seconds of 5-on-3.

At the 15-second mark, just as Bedessem returned to the ice, a breaking Tuttle was upended across the blueline, giving the Spiders yet another chance at the power play in regulation. Although they had chances, none found the twine, and the buzzer signaled OT.

In the usual confusion of run-time OT, and even with the benefit of 1:45 of the man-advantage, the Spiders couldn’t convert. Still pressing, with chance after chance, until yet another interference call in the Maroons’ zone gave the Spiders a gift of their sixth power play. Line confusion led to minor hysteria on the bench, but with time ticking away, the Spiders finally decided to pull the goalie, and as soon as Amber Obermoller got the gate (they didn’t want one of those penalties again; the previous earned in the previous game with the Maroons), the extra attacker jumped on. In the waning seconds, the Spiders were able to generate passing and at least one scoring chance, but time was not on their side.

Final: 3–3.

The Maroons played a strong game, with crisp passing and a solid breakout, though were held to 19 shots on Obermoller (8, 4, 7, 0). The Spiders got the puck through a whopping 35 times (13, 12, 9, 1), but Colling earned the Maroons’ three stars of the game, having an answer for pretty much everything coming her way.

The game closes the season series, with the Maroons having the 1–0–1 advantage. Lifetime, the Maroons lead the series with three wins and tonight’s tie.

In the standings …

With a point for each team, the standings stay the same as they were before the game However, the prospects of sneaking into the post-season became much dimmer for both teams. The Fighting Ice Fish, in fourth (21 pts.; 10–7–1), are breathing easier knowing that they are back to controlling their playoff hopes. But, they have to get through both the Chaos and Spiders to lock up their berth. The Maroons (8–9–1), gaining a point but still in fifth, face the Nighthawks and Lakers, but are now reliant on other teams to bump them in. And though the Wingmen (also 8–9–1) lost to the Lakers Monday night, they have a glimmer of hope (and face the Fighting Piranhas and Diablos), but are also reliant on other teams’ results.

And finally, the Spiders, still in fifth (8–8–2), just one spot out of that playoff invite, but three points behind the Ice Fish and an equal number of games remaining (Knights and Ice Fish), makes it unlikely the Spiders can make up ground.

Next up, the Spiders face the 0–17–1 Knights at Braemar Sunday evening. The previous meeting had the Spiders in front 8–4.