Spiders knocked off by Moose 2–1

Jan. 15, 2012

Spiders’ five-game win streak comes to crashing end at hands of Mintalar Moose.

The 25 fans in attendance at Breck, including one with media credentials, got to witness an entire 51 minutes of crisp passing, well-executed breakout, turnover after turnover at the blue line, a suffocating forecheck, extended offensive zone time, perfectly executed dump-and-chase, point shots blocked at will, and more 3-on-2 line rushes than can be counted on a pair of Reebok size 15″ four-rolls. Unfortunately for the Spiders, that was all the Mintalar Moose’s showcase, not the Spiders’.

The highly anticipated game, as evidenced by the vicious pregame tweet spar that broke out on social media this weekend, had the sixth-place 5–4 Mintalar Moose, a new AHA team formed this off-season by one-time summer league/Fall Tournament Spider teammates Brandon Hofer and Grant Wold, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the team is a serious contender for the C3 post-season.

The Spiders, having played with just 10 skaters last week, were fortunate enough to have a full complement of 13 skaters tonight. That was nothing in comparison though to the Moose’s full 18 dressed, which would allow them to maintain fresh legs through three periods.

The game started on an almost high note, just 1:20 in, as a Spider point shot almost beat a screen to the net. But the Moose’s netminder David Resch got a glove on it at the last second. And it was all downhill from there.

While shots in the first period were almost even (six for the Moose, 5 for the Spiders), scoring chances were much higher for the Moose, as they would turn any possession into extended zone time, keeping the Spiders on their heels and unable to make line changes. One D pairing actually got stuck on a three-and-a-half minute shift in the first period, where the puck never made it beyond the center red line.

A scary moment in the first when new Moose recruit #10 McKinley crashed the net to try to dig out a puck from behind Spider gumper Bill McCormick, who ended up getting completely steamrolled by McKinley and Byland. McCormick suffered an “Upper Body” injury in the play, but after a good five-minute gathering of his wits and examination by Dr. Robert, play resumed.

In the second, much like the first, shots were essentially even (Moose 11, Spiders 12), but the Moose got on the board where it counts first, with what amounted to a two-on-none behind the defense on top of McCormick’s crease. Goal was credited to #11. G. Jancevski, assist to #14. S. McDonald.

Later in the second, at 6:27 remaining, the Spiders notched their way back into the game, on a gorgeous play that involved all five skaters touching the puck, goal to David Schuster, who returned from two weeks of healthy scratches to reclaim his team-leading goals stat from Jason Freed, who got the first assist, and Mike Johnson, who made a welcomed returned to the ice tonight from a five-game hiatus due to a “Lower Body” injury suffered on Thanksgiving.

And Schuster almost put the Spiders up on a breakaway late in the second, offering up a Mikko Koivu-esque forehand-to-backhand deke, but Resch wasn’t buying.

In the third, shots again were almost even, with the Spiders getting one additional shot on net (9 to 8), but all the Spiders’ offensive chances came in the last 38 seconds of the game. The first 16:22 of the period was the Moose’s. Scoring on a failed Spider clearing attempt, the Moose reclaimed the lead at 11:30, goal by #17 Turnquist, assist to #24 Poutre.

The Spiders spent the remaining time attempting to even it back up, but their efforts were interrupted with 3:23 remaining by the ref getting creative with the lone call of the game, whistling D Byland for a body check after getting skated through from behind in a puck dump chase along the boards in the Spiders’ own zone.

So while the Spiders may have never solved the Moose netminder in the last minutes of the game, they wouldn’t get a chance, instead going on the penalty kill. When the kill was over, the Spiders called a timeout to strategize pulling the goalie in the game’s final minute. After partially wining the subsequent defensive-zone faceoff and eventually gaining control, McCormick skated off just as Schuster got the best chance of the rush, trying to go through a taunted five hole by Resch. Despite maintaining zone possession, the Spiders never got a better chance, and time expired.

While a close game on the scoresheet, it was a night where nothing went the Spiders’ way, and the inability to get the puck out of their zone thanks to turnover after turnover, meant it was a Mostly Moose night. Only McCormick’s stellar play kept the score close.

About the only element of the Spiders’ game plan that went right was keeping goals-leading Moose sniper, and former Whitesnakes teammate, Brian Vesall, off the scoreboard. Despite a couple free one-timer setup passes right on his stick from the Spider defensive corps, Vesall eloquently reflected that he played “like hot garbage.”

In the standings

The Spiders (6–3–0–1) will temporarily hold onto a three-way tie for 3rd place in the standings with the Nighthawks and Fighting Saints, both with 13 points. The Moose climb up to fifthremain in sixth, just a point behind at 12, and a 6–4 record. And as this game marks the halfway point of the AHA winter season, a post-season picture may begin to emerge, with the Wingmen, Puck Hounds, Nighthawks, Spiders, Moose, and Fighting Saints all currently holding the top six spots. But the Royals, Maroons and Diablos and Fighting Piranhas are still within reach. The Sled Dogs, Lakers, Fighting Ice Fish, and finally the Ak Bars, which have yet to get a win, are rounding out the C3 tier looking up. But longer long-shot comebacks have happened in the AHA.

Next up

The Spiders, which had gone five in a row undefeated, will try to get back to the win column next week against the 3–6 Lakers, currently in 12th place. The Lakers feature former Spider Mike “Monty” Montgomery, and the Spiders/Lakers only two meetings, in the 2009–10 season, resulted in a split, 5–4 Lakers, 4–3 Spiders.

The game is back at the State Fair Coliseum, a family-friendly start time, Sunday at 6. Bring the kids and enjoy a Pronto Pup along with some adult hockey.