Spiders can’t find parking ... or the net

Feb. 8, 2022

First (actual) shutout — 5-zip — of the season at the paws of the Wildcats.

The second game in a row at Parade Ice Garden, and the second week back-to-back with an MSHSL game drawing capacity crowds (they certainly weren’t there to watch AHA slow-mo hockey), meaning the parking lot was absolutely packed, with nowhere to find spots. Tonight that set the tone for the game, as the Spiders were not only shut out of parking, but also shut out on the ice.

While the Spiders didn’t do themselves any favors and unable to maintain any meaningful possession, the puck luck was 100% on the Wildcats’ end of the soupy Parade North ice.

Game-tying goal for the capacity Parade N crowd.

Orange cone hockey for the incapacity Parade N crowd.

Despite outshooting the Wildcats 19–7 in the first, it was 2-zip Wildcats on two freebies given up by the Spider defense. After two, the score had doubled, with an assist by the refs who were inexplicably waiving off icings, giving the Wildcats a freebie 2-on-1 goal.

In the third, they suddenly found their whistles despite the score being well out of hand. A collision in front of the Spider net gave the Wildcat trailer another freebie.

The Spiders were not without chances, including at least three or four wide-open giftwrapped pucks laying in the crease, and goaltender Matt Zarras nowhere to be found. But the Wildcat goal forcefield effectively repelled the puck.

Final score, 5-zip.

The Wildcats continue their franchise domination of the Spiders, with the Spider record now 2–6–0–0 dating back to the 2018–19 season.

The loss, the Spiders’ first since Dec. 19 vs. the Spartans (not counting the forfeit), knocks the record to 9–4–1. Still in third, but all the other teams in the playoff mix have a game in hand. And the Wildcats add their fourth to the W column.

And speaking of the Spartans, the Nordeasters finally figured out how to put a number in their L column, beating the Spartans 2-1 Friday night at Parade South, with sub goalie Kristel Carlson taking the loss. Apparently parking wasn’t an issue for the Nordeasters that night. The Spartans seemingly immovable chokehold on C3 West now looks catchable by the Fighting Walleye, a game and a half back (and a game ahead of the Spiders).

The Spiders now head into the Super Bowl Bye, returning to the ice in 10 days vs. the Troopers. The previous game in December eventually went the Spiders’ way, a 6–5 overtime win.

Puck drop at Breck, Saturday, Feb. 19, at 7:45 p.m. And let’s hope there’s no MSHSL game there that night.