Spiders stomped by Moose 5–1

First-period stalemate gives way to second-period deluge as Spiders set franchise record for consecutive losses.

The Spiders headed back to somehow still chilly Charles M. Schultz Highland Arena for the third time this season, to take on the first-place Moose also for the third time this season. You can imagine the short-benched Moose’s surprise in the first period when the lowly Spiders locked out the Moose’s C3 East-leading offense (and defense ... first in GF, first in GA, first in SF, second in SA) off the board.

In the second, the Spiders started out strong, controlling play in the Moose end for two consecutive shifts. That was all she wrote, however, and the Moose started the at-will scoring portion of the game, putting two away on consecutive shifts. Moose 2-zip.

The Spiders though weren’t going to go away quietly, and following an actual hockey-like cycle in the offensive zone, D-man Schroeder snuck through to the slot and banged home a one-timer to cut the lead in half, assists to Johnson and Freed thanks to their stellar passing. Moose 2–1.

The goal celebration lasted just long enough (28 seconds) for the Moose to get one back as D-man Andres joined the overpopulated Spider defensive fraternity of scoring on your own net. Moose 3–1.

The goal against apparently jarred the Moose into remembering it was the Spiders they were facing, and turned on the jets to add two more to close out the second period with a three-goal lead, adding to the Spiders’ second period misery this season. Moose 4–1.

The third period had great chances at both ends of the ice, with both goaltenders (and the occasional defenseman) making highlight-reel saves (if anyone was filming). The lone tally came on yet another Moose breakaway, leaving the beaten defenseman, who ignored his bench’s plea to haul the skater down, with a good view of the goal. Moose 5–1.

The refs largely kept their whistles pocketed throughout the 51 minutes, their version of keeping a runtime clock, given what happened in the last Moose meeting. Only Bredael and his Moose dancing partner went for a pair of roughs midway through the third.

Final score: 5–1

The Moose added to their vice-grip hold of first place in C3 East, keeping pace with the Maroons, who beat the Ak Bars 9–1 and sit a point behind the Moose with one game to go.

And the Spiders added to their vice-grip hold on the Spider record book for most consecutive losses, which now stands at 11. And sit just one loss away from tying the record for most losses in a season, which sits at 18 (17 in regulation, one OTL), set in 2005–06. Go Spiders!

Playoff watch

2018–19 C3 East Standings (Week 19)
Team GP W L T OTL P GF GA PIM
Moose –x 19 15 4 0 0 30 81 39 100
Maroons –x 19 11 1 4 3 29 80 49 91
Les Étoiles du Nord –x 19 12 5 1 1 26 67 46 64
Knights 19 10 7 1 1 22 58 58 88
Royals 19 10 7 2 0 22 64 61 92
Wildcats 19 10 8 1 0 21 71 58 118
Arctic Wolves 20 7 9 3 1 18 77 78 98
Ak Bars 20 7 11 2 0 16 55 78 110
Icedogs 19 5 13 1 0 11 48 74 141
Spiders 19 1 17 1 0 3 34 94 92
  • y = clinched division
  • x = clinched playoff berth
2018–19 C3 South Standings (Regular Season)
Team GP W L T OTL P GF GA PIM
Marauders –y 20 15 3 2 0 32 97 40 56
Spartans C3 –x 20 14 5 1 0 29 88 47 133
Gold Rush –x 20 13 7 0 0 26 95 68 120
Hooligans C3 –x 20 12 7 1 0 25 70 58 146
Pines 20 12 7 1 0 25 75 57 114
Blade Runners 20 9 9 2 0 20 70 77 162
Nordeasters 20 7 10 1 2 17 68 75 118
Fighting Loons C3 20 5 13 2 0 12 68 95 68
Wolfpack 20 4 14 1 1 10 46 109 114
Nighthawks 20 3 16 1 0 7 57 108 110
  • y = clinched division
  • x = clinched playoff berth
2018–19 C3 West Standings (Week 18)
Team GP W L T OTL P GF GA PIM
Fighting Piranhas C3 –x 18 13 5 0 0 26 70 46 86
Leafs C3 –x 18 12 5 0 1 25 72 46 143
Anchors 18 10 7 1 0 21 62 58 140
Bulls 18 10 7 0 1 21 66 55 94
Black Ice 18 9 7 1 1 20 61 63 82
Troopers C3 18 8 7 2 1 19 62 63 82
Shame On Ice C3 18 5 9 4 0 14 34 50 70
Boomsticks 18 5 12 0 1 11 56 71 88
Stars 18 5 13 0 0 10 32 63 70
  • y = clinched division
  • x = clinched playoff berth

It’s down to the wire for all four of the C3 East playoff spots. While the Moose and Maroons clinched a spot weeks ago, the Les Nords now lock their spot in with an 8–1 victory over the Arctic Wolves, but the final dance card order is still up for grabs, as well as the fourth and final spot, with the same three teams, Knights, Royals and Wildcats, shuffling in and out of the cutoff.

Week 20 meaningful matchups:

  • Knights (t-4th) vs. Royals (t-4th)
  • Moose (1st) vs. LED Nord (3rd)
  • Maroons (2nd) vs. Wildcats (6th)

And … in meaningless games: Icedogs (9th) vs. Spiders (∞). This is the reschedule of the February Polar Vortex game. The previous post-Thanksgiving matchup in November went the dogs’ way, 6–4.

Puck drop on the final game of the 2018–19 season is 7:15 Thursday at BIG 2.

For details, see the box score and game summary.

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