Spiders keep Sled Dogs at bay, grind out 4–3 win to steal fourth place in C3 East

Feb. 10, 2013

Spiders keep Sled Dogs at bay, grind out 4–3 win to steal fourth place in C3 East

It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t pretty. But when the final buzzer sounded at the empty Eden Prairie 1 rink, the Spiders earned a desperate 4–3 win over the Sled Dogs, taking fourth place from the Dogs as well the season series 2–1 and the standings tiebreaker.

Though the Rink 1 stands were conspicuously empty for the late Sunday night matchup thanks to winter weather warnings in the Twin Cities, the Spiders and Sled Dogs made it to Eden Prairie for the rubber match of the season series. The previous two games had been a split, with the season opener back in October going to the Spiders 5–3, and the December game going to the Sled Dogs 6–2.

While the series was even, the two teams’ placement in the standings weren’t. Thanks to a couple three-point games, the Dogs had held onto fourth place since overtaking the Spiders on Jan. 2.

But having knocked off the Ak Bars two weeks ago in the last game before the Super Bowl break, the idle Spiders were still in the playoff hunt, a game out of the top 4, and desperately needing a win to stay in the race. According to analstats, the Spiders’ chances, while improving thanks to the Ak Bar defeat, were still at a slim 35.9% to make the post-season, while the Sled Dogs had a solid 72.5% chance.

The Spiders knew what was at stake — win or early April golf. Yet, the first two shifts instead staked the Sled Dogs with a comfortable two-goal cushion. By just a minute and a half into the game, the Spiders looked ready to pack up and call for tee times.

But instead, the Spiders got back on the proverbial dogsled, put their game plan back in place, and just 3 minutes after the opening debacle, team-leading scorer Dave Lavigne, who canceled his work travel flight to be at the game, cut the Dog lead in half. From there, the game was a chess match, with shots almost even to close out the first.

In the second, the intensity from the first picked up. Three minutes in, a neutral zone whistle put #68 Lough in the box (without complaint) and the Spiders on the game’s first Power Play. However, the man-advantage was its usual disadvantage for the Spider offense. The Spiders “practiced” their defensive zone retrieval and breakout drill at least three times. Litton to Farner to forechecker. Litton to Farner to forechecker. Litton to Farner to forechecker. The refs were considering grabbing some orange cones to make sure the exercise was repeated correctly each time. Finally though, on the final rep, with the two minutes waning, Farner found Grotbeck at the far blueline, who spread the D through the slot and beat the goalie to tie up the game at two apiece.

The stalemate didn’t last long, with the pressing Sled Dogs taking advantage 3-on-2 to go back up 3–2 at 10:44. But the Dogs’ celly was barely over when just 12 seconds later the Spiders’ Dave Schuster made his customary goal-line stand, assist to Johnson. Tie game again, with half a hockey game to go.

The remainder of the middle frame had both teams with grade-A chances, but nothing would get past the solid goaltending on either end. But in the final minute of the period, an offensive-zone faceoff chance for the Spiders had center Grotbeck make a perfect draw to D Litton, who one-timed a severely offspeed changeup from the high slot right past the goalie’s ear to put the Spiders up 4–3. It’s Litton’s first goal (for) in exactly one year, his last coming vs. the Wingmen on Feb. 12, 2012. That night, the Spiders ended up giving up a go-ahead goal just 30 seconds later and never recovered. Tonight, instead the Spiders battened down the hatches and were prepared to keep up the intensity of the second through the third. (Incidentally, Litton’s last goal scored on the Eden Prairie rink 1 ice was in the 2009–10 playoffs, though that one wasn’t quite a goal “for.”)

Only, the one-minute intermission must’ve put the Spiders’ legs back to sleep, as the skating speed was appreciably slower than its typical C3 snail’s pace. The Sled Dogs would take advantage throughout the period to generate offensive chances, and drawing penalties. First in the box, Byland, at 12:39, for cross-checking, then Sutton for having his stick pulled out of his hands (hooking), at 7:59, and Grotbeck for playing the puck (tripping?) at 2:52. All that added up to six minutes of tilted ice. In all, the Sled Dogs would generate 11 shots on goal in the third, to the Spiders’ measly 2.

The Sled Dogs’ netminder, bored by the lack of activity, vacated his net with a minute to go as the final seconds of Grotbeck’s penalty ticked off. Meaning the Spiders fended off the final minute down a man (6-on-5). The Spiders defense, and McCormick’s stellar shutdown goaltending, turned away all chances and held on for the well-earned victory, 4–3.

In the post-game ceremony, the ref Scott Johnson, a veteran of many Spider games, including his first-ever game officiated at the very same Eden Prairie facility, hunted down Litton to hand over the game puck (incidentally, since the Sled Dogs were the home team, the Spiders will gladly replenish their puck supply), and also explain his (partially obstructed) views on high-sticking calls in the AHA.

On the tail of last week’s season low in shots, the Spiders’ total went even lower, putting 17 on net (6, 9, 2), though four went in past Youngdahl. The two in the third is a season low for the Spiders. The Sled Dogs outshot the Spiders with their 25 (7, 7, 11), McCormick stopping 22, including some game savers that kept the Spiders in the game through the second and third.

Standings watch

With the win, possibly the most important win of the season, the Spiders stake a claim on the fourth and final C3 East playoff spot, swapping standings places with the Sled Dogs, who drop to fifth at 7–6–1–1 and 16 points. The Spiders improve to over .500 for the first time since Dec. 15, at 8–7–0–0, 16 points, and fourth place. More importantly, the head-to-head tiebreaker goes to the Spiders, meaning even if the Spiders and Sled Dogs stay neck and neck for the last five games of the season, the nod would go to the Spiders.

Easier said than done, of course. The Spiders take one last lap through the top of the order, facing off against the first- (Moose), second- (Mastodons) and third-place (Fighting Saints) teams over the next month. The Sled Dogs, though, do the same, meaning statistically, the two teams could finish tied. However, as long-time Spider fans know, statistics usually have far less to do with the season’s finish than fluky bounces, errant whistles, waved-off goals and convoluted AHA math.

Next game

First up, it’s the first-place Moose, and their seemingly unstoppable 13–1–1 (27 points) record, which includes two victories over the Spiders, 4–1 and 3–2. Head to the Coliseum for some Pronto Pups and C3 AHA hockey next Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Sixth Annual Hockey Weekend Across America, Presented by CCM, and watch the Spiders take their three-game winning streak up against the Moose’s seven-game undefeated streak (6–0–1). Puck drops at 4:15 p.m.