Spiders stomped by Moose 5–1

March 18, 2019

First-period stalemate gives way to second-period deluge as Spiders set franchise record for consecutive losses.

The Spiders headed back to somehow still chilly Charles M. Schultz Highland Arena for the third time this season, to take on the first-place Moose also for the third time this season. You can imagine the short-benched Moose’s surprise in the first period when the lowly Spiders locked out the Moose’s C3 East-leading offense (and defense ... first in GF, first in GA, first in SF, second in SA) off the board.

In the second, the Spiders started out strong, controlling play in the Moose end for two consecutive shifts. That was all she wrote, however, and the Moose started the at-will scoring portion of the game, putting two away on consecutive shifts. Moose 2-zip.

The Spiders though weren’t going to go away quietly, and following an actual hockey-like cycle in the offensive zone, D-man Schroeder snuck through to the slot and banged home a one-timer to cut the lead in half, assists to Johnson and Freed thanks to their stellar passing. Moose 2–1.

The goal celebration lasted just long enough (28 seconds) for the Moose to get one back as D-man Andres joined the overpopulated Spider defensive fraternity of scoring on your own net. Moose 3–1.

The goal against apparently jarred the Moose into remembering it was the Spiders they were facing, and turned on the jets to add two more to close out the second period with a three-goal lead, adding to the Spiders’ second period misery this season. Moose 4–1.

The third period had great chances at both ends of the ice, with both goaltenders (and the occasional defenseman) making highlight-reel saves (if anyone was filming). The lone tally came on yet another Moose breakaway, leaving the beaten defenseman, who ignored his bench’s plea to haul the skater down, with a good view of the goal. Moose 5–1.

The refs largely kept their whistles pocketed throughout the 51 minutes, their version of keeping a runtime clock, given what happened in the last Moose meeting. Only Bredael and his Moose dancing partner went for a pair of roughs midway through the third.

Final score: 5–1

The Moose added to their vice-grip hold of first place in C3 East, keeping pace with the Maroons, who beat the Ak Bars 9–1 and sit a point behind the Moose with one game to go.

And the Spiders added to their vice-grip hold on the Spider record book for most consecutive losses, which now stands at 11. And sit just one loss away from tying the record for most losses in a season, which sits at 18 (17 in regulation, one OTL), set in 2005–06. Go Spiders!

Playoff watch

It’s down to the wire for all four of the C3 East playoff spots. While the Moose and Maroons clinched a spot weeks ago, the Les Nords now lock their spot in with an 8–1 victory over the Arctic Wolves, but the final dance card order is still up for grabs, as well as the fourth and final spot, with the same three teams, Knights, Royals and Wildcats, shuffling in and out of the cutoff.

Week 20 meaningful matchups:

• Knights (t-4th) vs. Royals (t-4th)
• Moose (1st) vs. LED Nord (3rd)
• Maroons (2nd) vs. Wildcats (6th)

And … in meaningless games: Icedogs (9th) vs. Spiders (∞). This is the reschedule of the February Polar Vortex game. The previous post-Thanksgiving matchup in November went the dogs’ way, 6–4.

Puck drop on the final game of the 2018–19 season is 7:15 Thursday at BIG 2.