Record-setting night for Spiders in 6–3 loss to Arctic Wolves

March 8, 2019

Spiders eclipse the franchise losing streak record at nine consecutive losses.

From the cozy and warm confines of Rink 2 3 at Eden Prairie Community Center, the Spiders showed why the second and third periods are not their friend.

After coming from behind to go up by one in the first period off highlight reel goals from Grotbeck and Pappone, the inevitable second period snooze set in as the Spiders gave back not only the puck on bad turnovers, but those two goals to go down 4–1. Derek Elling, back from his “vacation”+upper-body injury, ran the tables a couple of times and finally cashed in during the second period, scoring his first of the season to pull the Spiders within two. The Wolves, like clockwork, took that one back as well before the buzzer.

In the third, a first-shift Wolves goal set the tone and the Spiders, despite an early power play, were unable to get back on the board, save for a questionable penalty call for a reverse body check midway through.

A bad change by the Spiders with the netminder pulled sealed the deal via an empty netter with just under a minute to go. Final 6–3.

Despite the final score, the game was one of the Spiders’ better efforts this season though, including outshooting an opponent for the first time since the lone victory of the season on Dec. 23 vs. the Knights, and just the fifth time overall.

And the Spiders’ two power plays not only avoided allowing any shorties, they actually controlled the puck and had plenty of scoring chances, despite being locked down by the glove of the Wolves’ Ottum.

On the Spider end, McCormick had to stand on his head a more than a few times to keep the Spiders in it, especially following the frequent tape-to-tape turnovers that the Spiders have perfected this season.

The loss, the 15th of the season, and ninth in a row, puts the 2018–19 edition of the Spiders in the record books yet again, eclipsing the record for most losses in a season, which was at eight going back to the Spiders’ very first season in Beginner School, and tied three times since then (twice in 2005–06; and 2015–16).

At 1–15–1–0, the good news about the Spiders NOT making the playoffs is that the record for most losses in a season (at 18; 17 in regulation, 1 OTL, set in 2005–06) can only be tied given the three remaining games on the regular season schedule.

Standings Watch

The Arctic Wolves slightly improve their chances to make the post-season, improving to 7–7–3–1, 18 points, one spot out of the fourth and final slot. The Artic Wolves now have to cheer on the (…checks notes…) Spiders, who take on the fourth-place Wildcats (9–7–1–0; 19 pts.), who lost to the Ak Bars 2–1 Friday, next Wednesday.

There are five C3 East teams vying for that fourth and final playoff spot currently held by the Wildcats, with meaningful matchups determining who gets to play April hockey.

• Wildcats (19pts, 4th place): Spiders, Royals, Maroons
• Knights (18pts, tied for 5th place): LED Nord, Icedogs, Royals
• Royals (18pts, tied for 5th place): Ak Bars, Wildcats Knights
• Arctic Wolves (18pts, 6th place): Moose, LED Nord
• Ak Bars (16pts, 7th place): Royals, Maroons

And of course, the Spiders sit comfortably in the C3 East cellar, at 1–15–1, 3 points, and one loss away from clinching a permanent spot in last place even if the next lowest team, the Icedogs (4–12–1–0; 9 pts.), loses out.

The previous two Spiders/Wildcats matchups have both gone the Wildcats way, a 4–3 loss to open the season, and a 3–1 loss to open the 2019 calendar.

Puck drop on the rubber match is Wednesday, March 13, 8 p.m. at SLP (INDOOR).