The Squirrels only had two subs and put up a major fight, but couldn’t close the deal Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the Whalers.

After a scoreless first period, the Whalers finally got on the board in a really bad way – short handed – and then added another as they entered the final frame with a 2-0 lead. But then the Squirrels had two spectacular plays in a shot span. Tony Richelsen made a power move into the zone and passed the puck to Terry Young, who passed it back to Richelsen who then cut the lead to 2-1. Moments later, Neil Shah did something similar, this time getting the puck to Young who put it in.

At 2-2, the Squirrels had momentum but fatigue settled in. The Whalers scored two more in less than 35 seconds, then held on despite several great plays by the Squirrels.

The Squirrels won their third in a row Wednesday, walloping the Whalers, 5-1. But much of the game was closer than the final score, as the Whalers scored first, holding the lead until the end of the first when Brent Machado smacked in a rebound to tie the game. Jon Danziger and Tony Richelsen both scored in a penalty-filled second period. The Squirrels took a 4-1 lead early in the third as Danziger scored his second, but there was plenty of time remaining. The Whalers, however, didn’t take advantage of their much deeper bench, as the Squirrels kept possession of the puck for much of the third period. Terry Young put the game out of reach with a goal at 8:46, as the Squirrels milked the clock the rest of the game.