Spiders squeak by Sled Dogs at State Fair
Dec. 18, 2011
Highlights:
Spiders at Sled Dogs
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011,
6:00 p.m. – Coliseum
Game 8 (AHA game 372)
- Spiders final score:
- 2
- Sled Dogs final score:
- 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Sled Dogs | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Late-arrival Schuster shoots, scores on first shift, leaves
The C3 Spiders wrapped up the 2011 portion of the Winter Season schedule with a narrow win over the Sled Dogs at the Coliseum Sunday night.
All the Spiders’ scoring came from a late arrival, as David Schuster hit the ice for his first shift late in the first period, and immediately put the Spiders up 1–0, assist to Droullard. The bench congratulated him, and said he could now go home. However, he stuck around and, halfway through the second period, got the Spiders up again, with assists to Fritz and Schwinn.
McCormick’s tripping penalty.
And that would be the game winner. The Sled Dogs had scored early in the second period to tie the game, and both teams spent the remaining time trying to get insurance. And there were plenty of chances on both ends. The Spiders peppered the Dogs’ Brostuen over and over, including point-blank chances by Pettengill, only to be denied by a quick glove, and new callup David Lavigne, making his Spider debut tonight in front of the Coliseum crowd of six. David joins the team via Paul Berman and the apparent AHA C3 Spiders Farm Club, the D1 Ice Sages. In total, Brostuen saw a whopping Spider season-high 39 shots (10, 15, 14), stopping 37.
On the other end, netminder Bill McCormick got on his horse and stood on his head, putting on a State Fair Rodeo-worthy show, denying sure-thing after sure-thing due to Spider defensive breakdowns, in the end making 26 of 27 saves (11, 7, 9), including a late barrage after the Dogs pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. But the State Fair Demolition Derby Play-of-the-Night highlight definitely goes to the five-car pileup next to the Dogs’ net, with Schroeder getting a “lower-body” injury, and the Sled Dogs getting a three-on-one back on McCormick, who forced the shot wide.
McCormick and Lavigne did get on the scoresheet though, both getting their first penalties of the season, destroying their chances at the AHA Lady Byng trophy. The refs though had put away their whistles when Droullard took an elbow to the face, with the Coliseum crowd anticipating the return of Dr. Droullard and Mr. Rob.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puck Hounds | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Wingmen | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Fighting Saints | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Spiders | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Maroons | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Diablos | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Mintalar Moose | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Nighthawks | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Fighting Piranhas | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Royals | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Sled Dogs | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Lakers | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Fighting Ice Fish | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Ak Bars | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
With the win, the Spiders’ fourth in a row, improve to 5–2–0–1 and but remain in fourth place in the standings for the time being, behind the Puck Hounds, Fighting Saints and Wingmen.
The Spiders and the whole AHA now break for the holidays, and the Spiders return to the ice Jan. 7, 2011, vs. the first-place Puck Hounds.
The last time the Puck Hounds and Spiders played was the back-to-back to close out the 2010–11 season, including the Spiders only “non-win” of the regular season.
For details, see the box score and game summary.
Game media
Schuster’s goal through a Freed screen.
Spiders play the box.
