Spiders run out of puck luck

March 21, 2021

The Spiders first return to the Winter Season playoffs resulted in an early exit in 3–2 loss to Fighting Walleye.

The Spiders, having gone on a 7–0–1 run since returning from the Pause, met their match in the C3 East third place finishers the Fighting Walleye. The lack of AHA-instituted video review from Toronto didn’t help either.

The Spiders were swarmed by the Walleye in the first period, energized by a second-shift goal that was actually batted in the goal by the hand of #83 B. Warnke, seen by everyone in the arena — including the lone Spider Superfan (making his first appearance in the 2020–21 season thanks to capacity being back allowed in arenas) in the New Hope S bleachers — except the two refs. The officiating crew actually spent a minute discussing whether they could overturn it after vocal opposition from the Spiders, but instead, let the goal stand.

That same officiating crew ignored 83’s antics the rest of the period too, instead focusing on the Spiders, who get whistled five times in the game, to the Walleye’s two penalties.

It was the Walleye’s second penalty though that gave the Spiders some life, as Dave Sommerness, freshly back from snowmobiling with the late game call-up, bunted in a waist-high puck from Todd Krough from the corner, notching his first Spider goal of the season and tying the game.

The Walleyes answered back though as Dave was in the box for yet another penalty call against the Spiders, reclaiming the lead with five minutes to go in the second.

In the third, the Walleye got what appeared to be the backbreaker on the first shift, on a breakaway goal that, although was whistled dead, the puck had trickled just over the goal line under Josh Gesch, and was called a good goal by the trailing ref.

But, the Spiders, using their wisdom of advanced age, took over in the third, as the Walleye began to tire from their pace of the first two periods. The Spiders were generating offense now, despite the more than occasional offside whistle slowing down the pace.

Midway through the third, as the entire Spiders went for a line change, Shawn Campbell finally figured out how to beat the Walleye’s sub goalie, blocker side, and pulled the Spiders within one, 10 minutes to go.

The Spiders now had momentum, and sure enough, with 7 minutes on the clock, the Spiders appeared to pot the equalizer on a loose puck battle at the right side of the net, that found its way under the netminder. However, the ref in the far corner apparently decided he had lost sight of the puck and approached the net, and sure enough, relying on the “intent to blow” rule, waved off the goal, preserving the Walleye’s lead. A two-goal swing at the hands of the refs is not the kind of AHA math that the Spiders were hoping for in the playoffs.

The Spiders would continue to have chances up until the Spiders were awarded with yet another PK at 3:33 on the clock. The Walleyes had some chances on their power play, but iced the puck soon after the penalty had expired, and the Spiders called timeout to pull the goalie.

Now with the extra attacker, the Spiders maintained possession in the offensive zone the entire time, peppering the goalie (and the back of the net), the best chance coming with 30 seconds remaining, as Mike Schroeder nailed the post. But 3 seconds to go, the puck finally squirted over the blue line, and the buzzer sounded the end of the Spiders’ impressive 2020–21 season.

Final score: Fighting Walleye 3, Spiders 2.

The Spiders will now shave the playoff beards and get ready for some March golf. The Spiders will have plenty of C3 West company in booking tee times this week, however. Of the four C3 West teams in the bracket, only the first-place Pines made it to the second round, as they beat the Wildcats 3–2 in an even more PIM-filled game than the Spiders’ match. The Wildcats spent more than a period shorthanded, with nine penalties to the Pines’ three.

The C3 East first-place Spartans handily outmatched the Royals 5–1, and the Bulls edged the Arctic Wolves 4–3.

The C3 bracket will continue on Wednesday, with the Fighting Walleye now getting the first-seed Spartans at Parade, and the Pines getting the Bulls at Braemar.

Game media

Skate of shame