Napping Spiders finally wake up to edge Buccaneers 4–3, reclaim C3 East top spot

March 8, 2014

The Spiders again come from behind to stop their two-game skid against the always-dangerous Buccaneers and climb back to first place in C3 East with three games left in the regular season.

While the state high school boys tournament raged across town, real hockey fans headed to the Richfield arena, as both sheets featured C3 AHA games: The Wingmen vs. Diablos on rink 1 (Wingmen seem to have a lock on C3 West first place, at 12–2–3; 27 pts.), and your Let’s Play Hockey featured adult hockey game of the afternoon: Spiders (3rd place: 10–5–1; 21pts) vs. Buccaneers (9th place: 2–11–1–1; 6pts).

Despite being in the C3 basement for most of the season, the Buccaneers have shown they can skate with any team in the division, and even spoil the party for the top teams, beating the currently-in-first Fighting Piranhas 4–3 in January (which incidentally ushered the Spiders into first place).

The previous Spiders/Bucs game in December, almost went the Bucs’ way too, as the Spiders found a way to come from behind and win 3–2 in overtime.

Today’s game started with a little Spiders’ puck luck, as Sutton — on his first shift of the afternoon — nailed a knuckleballer from the right point that wound its way off at least two pairs of breezers and into the back of the net…

With all the confidence that a one-goal lead should afford, the Spiders apparently began their collective afternoon nap, according to the Spiders’ season ticket holder in attendance.

By the time the Spiders woke back up, it was 2–1 Buccaneers and 15 minutes to go in the game. The wake-up call came at 14:14, as former Spider Nick Ungaro, who spent his afternoon greeting his former teammates all over the ice, got called for tripping Andy Schwinn at the redline. A heads-up play by Lavigne kept the play going as the defense changed behind the play and McCormick darted to the bench in hopes the bench would supply an extra attacker. By the time the bench realized what was happening though, the puck was in the back of the Bucs’ net, thanks to temporarily-at-wing Eric Grotbeck for his ninth of the season. Tie game.

Less than two minutes later, Mike Johnson made sure the Richfield crowd was fully awake, putting the Spiders up by 1, assist to John “Iron Man” Pellicci, playing in his fifth (and playoff roster-qualifying!) game of the season.

Just under six minutes to go, Andy Schwinn capitalized on a Buc turnover and put the Spiders up by two.

The Spiders put their usual protect-the-lead game plan in place by heading to the box, as Byland was (surprisingly) called for a cross-check with 2:44 remaining.

Just over a minute later, Bucs’ usual suspect #3 K. Jensen put on his own Let’s Play Hockey exhibition, as he had all afternoon from the right blueline, and sniped a beauty through McCormick from the top of the right circle to pull the game to within one.

Back at full strength for the remaining minute and change, the Spiders were able hold off the Bucs and hold on for the win, 4–3.

The Bucs outshot the Spiders in the first 14–9, but McCormick, wearing his Bucs socks to throw that team off the scent, kept the Spiders in the game with little help in front of him, and made some spectacular saves, earning himself the coveted Toilet Seat Trophy. Total shots for the game by the Bucs were 24 (14, 4, 6), and the Spiders generated 29 (9, 10, 10).

The lifetime record against the Bucs, whom the Spiders hadn’t played since the 2006–07 season, now stands at 3–1–1.

C3 East Standings Watch

With just three games remaining, the deck-chair shuffling at the top of C3 East continues, with the Spiders reclaiming the top spot after sinking fast the last two weeks.

Key games in C3 East:

• Earlier in the week, Fighting Piranhas beat the IceDogs 6–1, but fall to second place instead of first thanks to the Spiders (and tiebreakers).
• ShameOnIce upset the Fighting Loons earlier in the week 4–3, and now sit in third place.
• Fighting Ice Fish keep their hopes alive beating the IceDogs 5–3.

And two key games Sunday, as the top teams play each other to solidify playoff berth positioning:

• Fighting Loons (3rd place; 11–6; 22pts) vs. Gold Rush (tied for 6th place; 7–7–3; 17pts)
• Fighting Piranhas (2nd place; 10–4–3; 23 pts) vs. Fighting Saints (4th place; 9–5–2; 20 pts; and game in hand)

The outcomes of those games will have an impact on the top five spots, with both the Loons and Piranhas in position to leap over the Spiders with wins.

Next up for the Spiders, a mid-week game vs. the Ak Bars, who are tied for 6th with the Gold Rush, just a game and a half out of a playoff spot). The Ak Bars beat the Fighting Ice Fish on Friday 5–2.

The previous Spiders/Ak Bars game back in January went the Spiders’ way 4–2.

Puck drops at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Breck.