Spiders strand Maroons 4–1

Dec. 10, 2017

Late shutout negated in Dan Schultz’s debut as regular sub goalie for Spiders.

With Bill McCormick headed to the IR, the Spiders welcomed Dan Schultz as sub goalie. Dan had previously backstopped the Spiders during the preseason a couple years back.

He didn’t get a good look at the Spiders’ porous defense until the third, as the Maroons tried to erase their donut off the scoreboard. In the first two periods, the Maroons only put four shots on net per period. Whereas the Spiders controlled the puck and therefore the ice.

Pappone’ first period goal en route.

The Spiders also welcomed back Jon Pappone in his season debut coming off IR, and midway through the first period, he got the Spiders on the board with his first of the season, assists to Johnson and Schroeder.

And despite a 13–4 shot margin in the second, it wasn’t until late in the period that Grotbeck notched the Spiders’ first insurance goal, assists to the Elling boys.

The New Hope crowd celebrates Grotbeck’s goal, while Brian Vesall (27) shares one of his patented “opinions.”

The legitimately crowded New Hope S bleachers full of mostly Spider fans — and Spider IR members (namely Fritz) — were on the edge of those bleacher benches halfway through the period, when a post-coast-to-coast Schroeder shot trickled its way behind the sprawled Maroons goalie and rolled over the goalline. Spiders up by 3.

The Spider nightcap came on the next shift, with Bredael from Farner putting the Spiders up 4-zip.

One of Berman’s point-blank chances.

And finally, with just 2:42 remaining, a loose puck in front was snapped over Schultz’s shoulder to negate the shutout.

At the buzzer, a bit of fireworks for the New Hope fans, as Maroons #26 found the back of his teammate’s leg for the second time in the game, and got in a tussle with his Easton. The striped crew were able to separate the two by awarding a 10-minute misconduct.

Final score: 4–1.

Penalty-wise, it’s lowest PIM total for the Spiders since game 2, with just one gate call. And total for shots ended up at a 31–17 margin for the Spiders.

Standings watch

The Spiders climb back atop the crowded middle of the pack, with eight points and a 3–2–1–1 record, good enough for fourth place, and a potential playoff spot. The Maroons drop to 3–4, and 7th place.

Lifetime, the Spiders improve the series to 4–7 dating back to 2005–06.

Next up, the Spiders take on the eighth-place Leafs (2–4–1–1, 5 points), though winning in the PIM race. Despite having scrimmaged the Leafs many times over the years, the Spiders and Leafs have never faced off in the season.

Puck drop is next Sunday, very early following the Vikings game, 5:45 p.m. at Richfield 2.