Sudden Victory! Spiders beat Arctic Wolves in OT 3–2!

Dec. 18, 2022

The last game before the holiday break had a bit of everything. 5-on-3, penalty shot, plenty of work for the sin bin gate operator, and a scoring stalemate leading to bonus time. Plus a Spider-friendly crowd filling the Richfield bleachers, with Spider Scott Bredael there to inspire the team.

The Spiders also welcomed goaltender Tucker back to his net, after a two-game stint on IR.

The Spiders starting the scoring off early, on the second line’s first, Grotbeck to Schroeder out front.

At which point the Spiders commenced their bid to catch the C1 Sharks (113 minutes) in the all-AHA PIM column. The Spiders (with 103 minutes) didn’t quite get there tonight despite a valiant effort.

In the second, Matt Kato got the blueline on the board, with a high slot shot, assists to MIA Johnson and Ungaro, to give the Spiders the most dangerous lead in hockey.

And sure enough, the short-benched Arctic Wolves capitalized five minutes later to cut the lead in half.

Winters describing the “shooter’s illusion” to Krough before the penalty shot.

The crowd was on its feet as Krough was hauled down on a late period breakaway, when ref Winters signaled for a penalty shot. This was perhaps the second penalty shot awarded to the Spiders in 18 seasons of winter hockey — the first going to Doug Thorson on Nov. 26, 2006, which also went slightly wide. And that’s where the rest of the Spiders shots in regulation went too, with plenty of opportunity to get the puck past the very active Wolves goalie Zarras.

The momentum had fully swung, and the Wolves tied the game on the next shift.

And that’s where it stayed through regulation, despite a handful of power plays for each team. But in the waning seconds, the Arctic Wolves decided to try to catch the Spiders in the season PIM column, with first Ungaro getting blatantly checked off his skates on a Wolve breakaway. Much to Wolves’ captain Hockert’s chagrin. And at the buzzer, #17 Pendergrass sent Sommerness’ Easton flying through air, to give the Spiders a 5-on-3 in the extra frame.

At intermission, Andres was rallying the troops with a call for 5 touchdowns.

And sure enough, on the first shot of the OT, Andres, who’s no stranger to GWOTGs, sent the puck through a tangle of skaters from the high slot, right about where Kato had scored his marker, where it flicked off the goalie’s glove, and bounced off and into the net. Spiders WIN!

Assists to Kato and Schroeder (who earned himself at least an honorary AHA “Gordie Howe” Hat Trick … 1G–1A–2PIM* … as he had to serve the bench minor in the first for too many men).

And as if winning the game, the Spiders’ second in a row off the early-season swoon wasn’t enough for Spider fans ... that GWOTG puts Andres in the Spider annals, as he is the first Spider to notch more than one game-winner in overtime in a Spider sweater.

In the post-game interview (at Pizza Lucé), upon learning he’d reached the pinnacle of the Spider record book, Andres immediately announced his retirement (effective 2027).

“I was trying to capture the spirit of the thing,” said Dickie Dunn.

Standings watch

In the standings, the Spiders return to .500 (4–4) and keep pace with the crowded pack tied for 6th place, while the Wolves earn the loser point to maintain sole control of fifth.

And now with the holiday break, the Spiders will return to the Richfield ice Wednesday, Dec. 28, against the Fighting Walleye Blue, who are in third place (4–1–3–0).