Battling with fewer players than usual Wednesday, the Screaming Squirrels won their fourth game in a row — 5-2 against Southwest Airlines — which sent them to second place in the standings.
Ed Bager got the scoring started 8 minutes into the game by connecting with Matt Borlik in front of the net. Bager returned the favor later in the period as he assisted on Borlik’s first goal. With less than a minute remaining in the period, Borlik collected a pass from Rob Myers and scored again.
In the second period, Ben Sumner put the Squirrels up 4-0 with shot that went through the crease to the far side of the net. Southwest Airlines finally answered with a goal late in the period.
In the third period, Southwest Airlines cut the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal. But minutes later, Bager scored again off a pass from Borlik, and the Squirrels held on for the rest of the game.
The Squirrels outshot Southwest Airlines, 41-12. Drew Thiemann made 10 saves in net.
Don Marks, Brian Jackson, Chris Long and Sergio Balatan missed the game for the Squirrels, who used four defensemen and seven forwards.
The next game is Sunday, February 26, at 2:15 p.m. against the Vikings, a team that is close behind the Squirrels in the standings.