Spiders lose in familiar fashion
Dec. 16, 2018
Maroons vs. Spiders
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018,
7:30 p.m. – New Hope N
Game 7 (AHA game 13526)
- Maroons final score:
- 2
- Spiders final score:
- 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maroons | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Spiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Despite playing one of their best games of the season, an undeclined power play late in the third sealed the deal with two shorties, ending in a 2-zip shutout by the Maroons.
The new-look Spiders, which featured the season debut of Derek Elling (in slightly off-colored/very off-fitting breezers) and a bunch of defensemen playing forward, put together a solid effort through two periods.
A solid C3 game, with good chances for both teams, stopped by two stubborn goalies who had to stand on their heads at times to keep the stalemate going, ended the only way a 2018–19 Spiders game could.
Yet another penalty drawn by defenseman Rag Doll in the defensive zone late in the third led to the second power play of the game for the Spiders. It took just 19 seconds, and a loose puck in the slot and an ill-advised pinch by that same defenseman ended up instead in the Spider net following a breakaway by the speedy Maroons sniper D-man John Fleischhacker, celebrating his birthday with a shortie.
And with still 1:41 to go in the man-(dis)advantage, the first unit knew they better get off the ice to avoid partaking in the repeat of the Ak Bars game’s power play prowess. Sure enough, another breakaway, another shorthanded goal, and the Spiders were instantly down 2-zip with 24 seconds to go in the power play. The peanut gallery noted that was still plenty of time for the Maroons to break the Spider record for a third shorthanded marker allowed in the same power play.
With five shorthanded goals allowed so far, the Spiders are now one shortie away from tying the season record set in the Spiders first winter season (2005–06).
Final score: 2-zip
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moose | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 33 | 11 | 39 |
| Les Etoiles du Nord | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 26 | 20 | 20 |
| Maroons | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 17 | 51 |
| Royals | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 22 | 23 | 26 |
| Knights | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 25 | 30 |
| Arctic Wolves | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 33 | 28 | 44 |
| Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 23 | 18 |
| Icedogs | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 29 | 65 |
| Ak Bars | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 25 | 26 |
| Spiders | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 29 | 32 |
The Spiders solidify their grip on the C3 East cellar, at 0–6–1 heading into the holiday season of short benches.
And the Maroons improve to 4–0–2–1, tied in points for second place with the LED Nord.
Next up, the Spiders face the fifth-place 3–3–1 Knights, who are coming off their own donut, losing 10-zip to the Arctic Wolves Sunday night. The last time the Spiders played a Knights team was 2009–10, but this is a different franchise, which moved from D1 to C3 last season after losing in the final the year before. Last year in C3 North, they went 7–11–2–0.
Puck drop is at Richfield on Sunday, Dec. 23, at 9:15 p.m.
For details, see the box score and game summary.
Game media
