Spiders back in action, skate to tie against undefeated Pines

Jan. 23, 2021

The AHA has returned to the ice — with masks — after a two-month pause.

The Spiders, all 10 available skaters, plus netminder Josh, hit the ice for the first time since Nov. 15. The Minnesota Hockey Phase 5 Return to Play guidelines dictated the Breck parking lot, during a blizzard, would be the dressing room. Having played just three games before the hiatus, the Spiders sit in the C3 West mezzanine at 1–2, including an 8–3 drubbing by the Pines in November.

The Pines, having gone 4–0 so far on the season, and a knack for drawing penalties, had a less than socially distanced overfull bench.

The game started out with plenty of rust, but the Spiders got an unlikely early power play with the Pines getting whistled just 19 seconds in, a stark contrast from the previous game’s Red-n-White parade to the penalty box. (Don’t worry, the Spiders got plenty of bin time.) Midway through the period, Jon Pappone cashed in, assists from #8 John Andres #8 Andy Moses and Eric Grotbeck, for his first of the season.

Masked-up hockey.

The Pines dominated the second period as the Spider legs began to give, with two unanswered to take the lead. But in last minutes of the period, the Spiders didn’t have to move at all to re-tie the game, with a perfect offensive zone faceoff draw by Mike Johnson to Mike Schroeder, who sent the puck straight past the Pine goalie.

The Pines reclaimed the lead 6:31 into the third on a Schusteresque shot, and spend the next 10:19.5 dancing circles around the Spiders to protect the lead. But Josh Gesch stood tall, stood on his head, and even took a few felled Pine incursions into his crease to keep the game close.

With 40 seconds to go and no masked whistle devices in site, Gesch made it to the bench for an extra attacker, though a simultaneous line change meant the Spiders were playing with just 5 skaters for a good portion of the empty net time. But the group maintained possession, and eventually, a perfect Grotbeck pass out of the corner to a waiting Pappone at the back door didn’t miss, and with just 9.5 seconds remaining, the Spiders improbably tied the game! Assists to Grotbeck and Andres.

Yes, Spider fans, that’s a new record for latest game-tying goal! The previous record, set way back in 2006, was 13 seconds, when Dave Schliesman beat none other than former Buccaneer (and Spider) goalie Bill McCormick!

The OT remained a stalemate, and the game ended with a 3–3 tie, the first points any team has taken from the first-place Pines this season.

The shot imbalance ended at 34 to 23 in favor of the spry Pines.

With the point, the Spiders leapfrog up to fifth place, just outside of a potential playoff (playoffs?) spot.

The Spiders face the Fighting Loons next Saturday, the previous game, the last before the November pause, ended in an improbable 5–4 win for the Spiders.

Puck drop at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at New Hope.