Spider scoring drought returns – Spiders shut out second time this season

March 4, 2017

Loss to second-place Arctic Wolves 4-zip officially ends Spiders’ playoff eligibility.

The crowd that braved the chilly indoor conditions to peer through the glass of the now-NHL-sized rink 2 sheet at Eden Prairie (bleachers have been removed, along with the Olympic-sized rink configuration) got to see a very solid two periods of C3-level hockey. Had they decided to warm up in the cozier confines of the other areas of the expansive EPCC facilities before the final 17 minutes, they would’ve avoided having to witness a third-period slide by the Spiders.

Fending off an early 5-on-3 penalty kill, and outshooting the Arctic Wolves, the only thing the Spiders couldn’t do was find the back of the Wolves’ net, fronted by D2-level sub goalie, Jim Horn (D2 Woodhaulers, currently in 8th place — 5–8–2–0; 12pts), playing his second game of the evening.

With just 3:42 to go in the second, the Arctic Wolves got on the board, carrying the momentum into the third by capitalizing on a Tape-to-Tape™ turnover on the second shift, drawing a questionable hooking call on the next shift, and potting the power play goal with just eight seconds of the man advantage to cap off a game-changing three and a half minutes. A last-gasp Spider power play, drawn by Cory Vandenberghe, playing in his final game of the season, ended up with quality chances, but nothing could make it under the cross bar or over the sprawled goaltender.

The added insurance came with five minutes to go, giving the Arctic Wolves the final score of 4-donut.

The last Spiders shutout was a month ago, losing 3–0 to the IceDogs, and matches last season’s total of two shutouts.

Spiders (6–10–2–0; 14pts) hold on to their own eighth-place spot thanks to tiebreakers over the now-tied Gold Rush (6–10–1–1; 14pts). But with still a six-point gap to the fourth and final playoff spot, and just two games remaining on the winter season, the Spiders are now officially out of contention.

As usual though, the crowded middle of the pack has four teams all within a game of each other vying for the fourth and final spot, currently held by the IceDogs, who have a game in hand, followed by the Shame, Blade Runners and, the Spiders’ next opponent, Silverbacks.

Notably, the fourth-place IceDogs did the unthinkable Saturday night, handing the LED Nord a regulation loss for only the second time this season. The LED Nord finally slip out of the top spot for all of AHA, with a 13–2–1–2 record and 29 points, though still lead all C3 teams. But the skid means their final game of the regular season, against the second-place Arctic Wolves (11–3–4–0; 26pts), could shape up to be a C3 West title game.

Next up, a quick turnaround for the Spiders with a very rare Tuesday night game, second to last of the Winter Season for the Spiders, vs. the seventh-place Silverbacks (7–7–3–1; 18pts). The previous meeting, the first game of 2017, was a rare Spider victory, 5–4. Beat the rush hour traffic and head to SPA–Drake for 7 p.m. puck drop.