Spiders edge Troopers in SLP track meet
Dec. 12, 2021
Highlights:
Troopers vs. Spiders
Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021,
8:15 p.m. – SLP E
Game 6 (AHA game 19124)
- Troopers final score:
- 5
- Spiders final score:
- 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troopers | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Spiders | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
Both teams got plenty of TOI as team bus flus shorten benches…
The Spiders had just 10 skaters available for Sunday night, while the Troopers topped out at 11. Even the striped crew started with just one zebra, though reinforcement arrived before puck drop.
While the Spiders got on the board first, it was the Troopers who took over the game, potting three, including one off Spider D Litton’s stick, causing him to be benched (until his next shift). By the time the game was half over, the Spiders were staring at a two-goal deficit.
The lone penalty of the game though, against the Spiders, may have turned the tide, as after that kill, it was the Spiders getting back in the offensive column to make it 3–2. Thus began the track meet, as the teams traded goals all the way into late in the third, when the Spiders were again facing a deficit. With 4:35 to go, the Spiders pulled within one, forcing the lone fan (Coach Nolan Andres) to his feet, and plotting with the bench as to when to call the timeout.
That plotting turned to celebration instead as the Spiders tied it up with 2:43 to go, shocking the Troopers with a 5–5 tie. The Spiders successfully withstood the Trooper barrage in the remaining minutes — including key stops by goalkeeper Kellogg — to earn a probably undeserved point.
In the OT though, the Spiders found their second wind, and took less than two minutes for Scott Bredael to cash in, giving the Spiders an unlikely comeback victory!
Final score: 6–5.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spartans | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 27 | 5 | 32 |
| Fighting Walleye | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 29 | 14 | 16 |
| Royals | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 27 | 12 | 14 |
| Spiders | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 26 | 16 | 24 |
| Troopers | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 22 |
| Minnesota Mallards | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 16 |
| Black Ice | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 31 | 14 |
| Fighting Loons | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 18 |
| Nordeasters | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 26 | 26 |
| Wildcats | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 28 | 20 |
The Spiders improve to 5–1 on the season, while still in the same fourth-place spot in C3 West with the Royals And Fighting Walleye keeping pace. And the Troopers still in fifth, at 3–2–0–1.
And, the Spiders take the edge in the franchise series, at 3–2 since the 2019–20 season.
Next up, the Spiders take on the undefeated Spartans. The Spiders short history vs. the Spartans has been long dominated by that team, going 2–0–1 since the 2019–20 season.
Puck drop on the last Spider game of 2021 next Sunday at 7:15 p.m. at EPCC 1.
For details, see the box score and game summary.
