Spiders tame Sled Dogs 5–1, slide into 5th

March 20, 2010

The Spiders got back to the win column Saturday night on the low-tide, “textured” ice of the North rink at New Hope Arena, with a near shutout of the Sled Dogs. This would’ve been the second shutout of the season against the Dogs. But a late non-call on goalie interference gave the Dogs the eraser on the donut. With just 4:36 remaining in the third, Obermoller, with the puck clearly covered, was crashed into by the Dogs’ forwards, exposing the puck from under her glove, which eventually found the back of the net, due to her defensemen also being laid out. Josh Harding, in attendance in the sweltering and crowded New Hope bleachers, commented after the Dogs’ goal, “I don’t know, maybe I need to read the rule book and see what’s considered goalie interference. …”

Those same refs also had trouble finding their whistles on other miscellaneous stick and elbow infractions throughout the night. Probably on both sides of the redline, though D Jeremy “Sidney” Litton finally got them to whet their whistle with 2:40 remaining in the game, taking exception to his third elbow up high, for the lone called infraction of the game. Two minutes of rest for the weary Litton. The PK unit was not so weary though, led by C Cody Yard, who reminded the Dogs why it’s best not to draw penalties, and capped off the scoring with a shorthanded marker at 2:12.

Outside of that third-period action, all the offense was in the first, with the Spiders tallying four unanswered goals. First, at 14:30, Bedessem camped out, assist to Pellicci. Under a minute later, a breakout from Litton to Yard, who weaved his way into the zone and snapped from the hash marks to put the Spiders up 2–0. At 7:34, LW Heitzman, on another one of his patented changeups, for a 3–0 lead. And finally, at 1:45, Litton again, to Pellicci, for a 4–0 lead.

And that’s how it would stay until the waning minutes of the third, when the Dogs got their aforementioned goal. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but Obermoller was equal to every attempt, and she saw 25 of them (8, 11, 6), including plenty of 2-on-1s, 3-on-2s, the occasional 3-on-1 (including one negated by newly-back-at-D Ackermann), and even a smattering of 2-on-0s.

The Spiders put 31 shots the other way (11, 8, 12), but the Dogs’ goalie Brostuen kept them honest.

With Yard’s bookend, the final was 5–1.

In the standings …

And, with the win, the Spiders jump — albeit certainly temporarily — to 5th, just two games out of the fourth and final playoff spot, with a 8–8–1 record and 17 points. Also playing tonight in Richfield, the Wingmen (15 pts.; 8–7–1) vs. the Nighthawks (11 pts.; 5–10–1), who could influence the Spiders’ standings placement. Then, on Monday, the Maroons (16 pts.; 8–8) meet up with the Chaos. As has been the case for a few weeks, the Maroons are in the best point position to steal that last playoff spot. Those same Maroons will face our Spiders then on the Thursday, perhaps representing the play-in game for the post-season. Of note, on the same New Hope ice sheet, the Lakers (now 14 pts.; 6–9–2) lost to the Diablos (now 22 pts.; 11–7) 3–2 in overtime. That officially eliminates the Lakers from post-season contention, and moves the Diablos back to third and making them almost out of reach.

The Sled Dogs slip back to 10th, with 11 points and a 5–11–1 record.

Not quite record-book-worthy, but tonight’s game was the least-penalized game this season, with just one minor, a nice change of pace from last week’s PIM-fest. The previous distinction was held in the last Nighthawks game, with just three minors. However, on that minor, Yard’s shorthanded marker pushed the season into the all-time shorthanded goal record (for regular season), besting last year’s five (which had one more in the post-season, for 6).

This matchup with Sled Dogs was apparently nationally covered, as USA Hockey Magazine featured a previous Spiders/Sled Dogs game in their March issue. However, lifetime against these Sled Dogs, the Spiders are 2–5. Plus, the C2 Spiders have gone neck and neck with C2 Sled Dogs all season.

Next up, game 18, vs. the Maroons (16 pts.; 8–8), Thursday night at Breck.

Game media

Photos courtesy Litton Media Executives

Tuttle and Baker let the Dogs’ forecheckers have their space.

“Come on, just one?”

Flannery searches for his contact.

Pellicci (50) celly, with Tuttle (29) and Schlais (88).

Heitzman/Bedessem/Flannery line loses a faceoff.

Armel threads the D.

Who says the Spiders can’t turn on a dime?

Litton searches for his lunch.

Ackermann a one-man forecheck wrecking crew.

Baker searches for his wallet.

For all game photos, see the Spiders Photo Gallery.