First Spider shutout for Gesch as Spiders beat Loons 4-zip

Jan. 30, 2021

The Spiders take the season series, following the previous (and only) victory, pre-pause in November, which ended in on a puck-lucky game-winning goal.

This is the Spiders second game post-pause, and first at New Hope this season. That’s two games in a row trying to find a spot in the parking lot while Varsity HS hockey is apparently drawing sellout crowds.

Tonight, despite plenty of IR and conflicts on the roster, the Spiders were able to dress 13 skaters, an entire line’s worth over last weekend.

This time vs. the Loons, the Spiders had the puck luck from the opening non-whistle. On the first shift, a breakaway by Paul Berman got the Spiders on the board, and Berman sprawled into the back boards thanks to a trip. Berman could’ve left the game then, rather than having to exit later due to a “middle body” injury, only to get viciously chirped post-game by scorekeeper Andy Bauer.

After one, it was Spiders 2-zip, with Schuster from VanZyl with 28 seconds to go. Early in the second, Grotbeck from VanZyl and Andres made it 3-zip. And midway through the third, a Pappone knuckler from the high slot found the bottom corner of the net, assists to Johnson and Long.

The Spiders handily outshot the Loons in every period, including a 13–5 margin in the second. But the shots the Loons did get were all multiple rebound barrages, forcing Gesch to stand on his head numerous times, as well as take the customary crease incursions.

Special teams had plenty of reps on both squads, with almost 14 minutes of penalties eating up the clock, with the Spiders getting a brief 5-on-3 and the final 2:26 of the game on the Power Play to road salt away the shutout victory.

That’s Josh’s first shutout as a Spider, and second AHA career, the last coming Nov. 11, 2018, Moose vs. the Wolf-Rayets.

Lifetime against the various versions of the Loons Dynasty™, the Spiders improve to a 5–6 deficit dating back to the 2013–14 season.

The win actually puts the Spiders into the playoff picture, in a tie with the Royals, depending on tiebreakers, for 4th place in C3 West, both with 2–1–1 records and 5 points, a game behind the third-place Arctic Wolves, who have a game in hand and face the Royals this week.

For the Spiders, next up, following the customary Super Bowl Bye, it’ll be the Arctic Wolves, 9:30 p.m. at The Wooger on Tuesday, Feb. 9.