Spiders narrowly defeat Marauders in goaltending duel

Jan. 15, 2015

Both goalies stood on their heads in first-ever game at Vadnais Sports Center

The Spiders hit the road all the way up to Vadnais Heights, for their first game at the sprawling Vadnais Sports Center complex. As expected, just one lone fan made the northerly trip to watch the rematch of the Spiders (5–5; 10pts.) and Marauders (4–5–1; 9 pts.).

The season opener in October was a blowout for the Spiders, who won 8–0 behind the Marauders sub goalie. Tonight’s rematch would be different, as the Marauders would have their 1A goalie in the net, Eric Western (3–3–1 going into tonight, with a 2.71 GAA and C3 East-leading .921 save percentage).

The game opened in the Spiders’ favor, as Schuster buried his fourth of the season, assist to Freed, on their first shift, 2:54 into the first period.

The Marauders answered back with 5 minutes left in the first to tie the game on a puck that was fanned on by the goal scorer, but still managed to slip behind McCormick. The period ended with shots about even, 10–9 in favor of the Marauders.

However, in the second, the Spiders pulled away, eventually putting up 16 in the middle frame to the Marauders’ 5. And at 10:42, the Spiders thought they had the difference maker, as Paul Berman scored from the left circle. But the officiating crew waved it off thanks to “intent to blow,” after two offsetting penalties had been observed. Still 5-on-5, the Spiders kept pressing. However, Western was up to the task each and every time, making solid save after save. It would take a fluky goal to beat him, and that’s just what the Spiders had luckily prepared. On a puck that was narrowly kept in the zone by Droullard, and corralled by Murphy, who had his pass deflect up and directly off Mehling’s helmet, the puck dropped to his stick, and up somehow dug out by a diving Farner, who managed to flip the puck up and into the net while horizontal. A highlight-reel goal, if the Vadnais video crew hadn’t already left the building. Spiders 2–1 with half a game left.

Fancy Vadnais scoreboard

Halfway through the third period, D Litton was called for the slightly obvious trip he made on Marauder speedster Schmidt breaking into the Spider zone, giving the first power play of the game to the Marauders. But the Spider PK was ready, and kept everything out. Once freed from the bin, Litton drew the Spiders’ first PP by taking a highlight-reel body check after passing the puck at the blue line. Again, the absent video crew would show #23 Johnson incredulous with the officiating crew that this was in fact a checking classification game. Finally in the box, the Marauders PK went to the well again, and got called for a cross-check, giving the Spiders a half-minute of 5-on-3. Of course, a sure sign that it would be killed.

Back at full strength with 3:29 to go, both teams still got chances, but both goalies held strong. With well under a minute to go, the Marauders pulled their netminder, and even got a four-second power play to close the game, but McCormick was having none of it, and the Spiders held on for their second win in a row.

Final score: 2–1.

In total, the Spiders racked up 35 shots (9, 16, 10) on Western, including more than a half dozen sure things that Spider forwards will be seeing in their dreams for the next week. The Marauders put 22 on McCormick’s net, with Bill making 20 saves, Rob making one.

The win bumps the Spiders (6–5) firmly back into the playoff picture in the very tight C3 East race. While the league has yet to announce playoff criteria for the 11-team division, just two-and-a-half games separate the top nine teams, with the Marauders at the back end of the pack with nine points (4–6–1). The Spiders currently sit tied for third, with 12 points, but the Blade Runners (6–4) have a game in hand, as do the first-place Mastodons (6–2–2), among others.

After an 11-day hiatus, the Spiders now sit idle yet again for nine days until they take on the Blade Runner for the season rematch. The Spiders won the first game 5–2 in November.

It’s Family Night at SLP, with a 6 p.m. puck drop on a Saturday night.