Spiders outnumbered in final playoff game

The understaffed bench vs. the Saints led to a 3–1 defeat.

For the third and final round robin game of the 2021–22 playoffs, the bench looked much like the 2013–14 edition of the Spiders playoff “run.” Though the outcome was a bit different. Even though the Saints had double the amount of skaters on their bench — 16 to 8 — the game was kept close by sub goalie Kristel Carlson.

With under two minutes to go, the Spiders were still in the game, and Mike Schroeder (supposedly from Berman) cut the lead in half with 1:50 remaining. While the Saints responded on the next shift to put the game out of reach, it was an admirable effort.

The Spiders did finally convince the striped crew that they don’t always need to see red, penalizing the Saints four times to none on the Spiders. Though they made up for it by calling back a Grotbeck goal after video review showed a crease violation.

Final score: 3–1

And a perfect 0–3 record in the playoffs preserved.

2021–22 C3 Playoff Standings (Round 3)
Team GP W L T OTL P SF SA GF GA PIM DIFF
Spartans (2) 3 2 0 1 0 5 133 80 10 3 22 +7
Fighting Walleye (8) 3 2 0 1 0 5 98 86 11 6 8 +5
Royals (4) 3 2 1 0 0 4 122 82 10 7 10 +3
Saints (3) 3 2 1 0 0 4 129 96 10 8 22 +2
Gold Rush (5) 3 2 1 0 0 4 80 101 9 12 10 −3
Fighting Loons (10) 3 1 0 2 0 4 114 134 11 9 16 +2
Bulls (1) 3 1 0 2 0 4 126 108 6 5 6 +1
Spiders (6) 3 0 3 0 0 0 70 114 6 10 10 −4
Kan Jammers (9) 3 0 3 0 0 0 88 130 2 8 10 −6
Arctic Wolves (7) 3 0 3 0 0 0 74 103 5 12 18 −7

Elsewhere in round 3:

  • The first-seeded Bulls tied the last-seeded Fighting Loons, the Loons’ second tie of the playoffs, their first against the C3 Presidents’ Trophy-winning second-seed Spartans.
  • The Spartans shut out the Kan Jammers 3-zip, their second shutout of the round robin.
  • The undefeated Royals were defeated by the Fighting Walleye 5–1.
  • The Gold Rush edged the Arctic Wolves 5–4.

For the semi-finals, it’ll be the Spartans and Fighting Walleye with five points advancing as the top seeds, and with playoff tiebreakers in play, the Royals and Saints taking third and fourth, respectively, edging out the Bulls, Gold Rush and Fighting Loons.

Semi-finals are Friday night. While the Spiders will hit the golf course.

For details, see the box score and game summary.

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