Spiders fill the bench, and the net

Jan. 23, 2022

The Spiders had an actual 13-skater roster on Sunday night vs. the Fighting Loons.

It had been since the last game of 2021 that the Spiders had at least 13 skaters available. And that meant the Spiders could defend the lead, unlike the last few games. The Spiders also used that extra energy to fill the penalty box, out-PIMming the Loons five whistles to one.

Scoring-wise, the Spiders notched three in the first against the Loons’ sub goalie, gave back two in the second, including a seeing-eye shot from Schuster’s Office™, and offered multiple breakaway attempts to Loons’ leading scorer left winger #5 D. Gallagan, who finally cashed in late in the period. #5 got his own two-minute sit in the penalty box, though the D pairings were unaware and spent half the power play looking out for his coast-to-coasts.

The third alternated between adding two more (both Mettee from Krough), and strategically taking penalties so as to better kill off the clock on the PK.

Kellogg had to make 33 saves on the Loons, both standing on her head, and blocking pucks with her head.

Final score: 5–2

With the win, the Spiders take a 2–0 lead on the Loons in the regular season schedule, with the rubber match the last game of the regular season.

And lifetime against the various versions of the Loons Dynasty™, the Spiders up the ante in the series at 7 –6 dating back to the 2013–14 season.

The C3 West standings remain unchanged though, with the Royals and Spiders still tied for third (though Royals get the tiebreaker) at 8–3, the Fighting Walleye a game ahead (9–2), and the Loons now two games behind (6–5).

Next up, the Spiders and Royals will battle for sole possession of third place. The last game went the Royals’ way 6–1. Puck drop is during Schroeder’s naptime, 4:45 p.m. at SLP E.