Mastodons 6, Squirrels 5 (SO)

The Squirrels had an uphill battle Saturday, playing with only eight skaters against a very good Mastodons team. The chances were there and victory wasn’t out of reach, but the Mastodons came from behind, winning 6-5 in a shootout.

The Mastodons came out strong, maintaining puck possession throughout much of the first period but the Squirrels scored twice, once on a 2-on-1 as Don Marks scored the first, and a short-handed goal late in the period by Tero Moberg.

The Mastodons, who had plenty of chances with nothing to show for it up until this point, finally got some dirty goals through goalie Craig Beatty, and took a 3-2 lead. Mario Constantinou tied it up again for the Squirrels, before the teams traded a goal each to finish out the second, one by Bryan Chiang off of a rebound.

Brent Machado scored at 5:30 of the third to give the Squirrels a 5-4 lead. Machado scored again shortly after, but the goal was waved off as the goal post had been out of place – unnoticed – for the length of the play. The post being off had no effect on the play or goal but the Squirrels nonetheless had the goal taken away. The Mastodons tied it, then won in a shootout.