The Squirrels came into Sunday’s game fresh off a 10-1 blowout win and picked up where the they left off with 5 first period goals. After spotting Exit First a 1-0 lead, Paul Kobernick got the Squirrels on the board with a shot beating the goalie to his left side. Sergio Balatan, making his season debut, picked up the assist. Three minutes later Ed Bager forced a turnover at the Squirrels blue line, tipping the pass forward to Matt Borlik for a pretty breakaway goal with a defenseman draped all over his back. From there, the flood gates opened, as Adam Hughes knocked in rebound, and Tony Richelsen and Chris Long each added a goal to close out the first period with Squirrels leading 5-1.
From there the game got sloppy as the second period featured 9 penalties, 6 for Exit First and 3 for the Squirrels. Exit First added a goal to close the gap to 5-2. The third period was more of the same as the two teams combined for 7 more penalties, 2 for Exit and 5 more for the Squirrels. Fortunately for the Squirrels it didn’t cost them as T. Richelsen added a power play goal and Drew Thiemann chipped in a tally (after giving up one) as the clock expired.
Goalie Brian Rimm, subbing for Thiemann in net, played brilliantly, stopping 19 shots while the Squirrels peppered Exit First with 26 shots total. The Squirrels played without Don Marks, Wade Marks, Chi Pham, Charles Wolstein, Greg Wenograd and Ben Sumner, who missed his first Squirrels game (ice and roller) in nearly three years. Cal Ripken Jr.’s streak is safe for now. The Squirrels next game is Wed. night, 10:25 against the Vikings.