Dead Kings 11, Squirrels 5

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Long before the Dead Kings scored from the blue line with one second remaining in the first period, the Screaming Squirrels knew they were in for it. Down 6-0 after the first period, and generating virtually no offensive chances, there was only a running clock and a 10-0 skunk to look forward to. Only the running clock happened. And then it didn’t. And then it did. And then it didn’t.

Down 7-0 in the second period, Ben Sumner sent a high knuckler from the right circle over the goaltender’s shoulder to put the Squirrels on the board. In the third period, Sumner flipped in another shot after the goaltender fumbled the puck in front of the net. The Dead Kings responded with a couple more goals after that, and then Phil Van der Vossen scored after putting on deep pressure in the zone with Matt Borlik.

Later in the period, Sumner centered to Jared Genser, who shot a point-blank wrister past the goaltender. Adam Hughes scored the fifth goal of the game for the Squirrels, but it was well short of the 11 that the Dead Kings put up. The Squirrels were outshot, 42-20.

The Squirrels, who had only two defensive lines and seven forwards, played without both Don and Wade Marks, and none of their part-time players. The next game is Sunday, May 15, at 10:45 p.m. against the Panic in Logsdon.

Squirrels 8, Fish 2

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It was another night of point-padding for the Screaming Squirrels as they rolled past the new C-2 team, the Fish, 8-2 on Thursday. The game started slow again, however, and the Squirrels only outshot their opponents 21-18. Up 3-1 after 17 minutes, the Squirrels broke the game open in the second half, scoring virtually at will.

The Marks brothers, Don and Wade, each had two goals, while Matt Borlik, Kit Watson, Ben Sumner and Tony Richelsen had the others.

The Squirrels played without Rob Myers, Jeff Ford and Chris Long. The next game is Thursday, May 5, against the undefeated Hurricanes.

Squirrels 7, Bullhawks 2

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The scoreboard was deceiving in the Squirrels’ 7-2 victory Tuesday. The Bullhawks put up a fight, setting up plays, getting good shots, and even outshooting the Squirrels 25-24. It was Brian Byrne’s goaltending that made the difference. Byrne made several spectacular saves, even when the game was out of reach for the Bullhawks.

Ed Bager, Jeff Ford, and Don Marks each had two goals, and Phil Van der Vossen had the other for the Squirrels, who played without Wade Marks.

Squirrels 6, Honkey Kong 2

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The Screaming Squirrels made a quick statement in the Laurel ice league Monday, scoring two goals in the first 35 seconds of the game en route to a 6-1 victory against former roller division rival Honkey Kong. Don Marks and Greg Wenograd got the scoring started before the Squirrels went on a period-long scoring drought. Adam Hughes knocked in a pass from Desmond Richelson in the second, then Juan Canchasto scored two and Don Marks added his second goal in the third period.

Roller sniper and New Carrolton rink rat Joe Berrett played his first game as a Squirrel, putting up three assists on defense.

The Squirrels outshot Honkey Kong, 26-9. They skated without Jared Genser, Charles Wolstein, and Wade Marks.

The next ice game is Sunday, May 5, 7:40 p.m. against the Dead Kings.

Squirrels 7, Mors ab Alto 0

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The roller Squirrels played their most dominant game since last June on Thursday, running over Mors ab Alto, 7-0, with six different goal-getters.

Ben Sumner got the scoring started when he deflected in a Don Marks slapshot off the faceoff. Phil Van der Vossen scored from behind the net. Don Marks scored on a slapshot from the right point. Chris Long scored on a centering pass from Sumner. Kit Watson skated into the zone, went around everyone, and casually flipped the puck in the net. Don Marks scored again. And Wade Marks, shaking off a knee injury in the second half, easily knocked in a Watson pass. Team captain Ed Bager had three assists, and Don Marks led all scorers with four points.

The Squirrels’ only major mistake was taking a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty in the second half. They led 5-0 after 17 minutes. Goaltender Brian Byrne had a seven-save shutout, the lowest shot total allowed by the Squirrels since they started keeping statistics.

The Squirrels have two roller games next week – Tuesday against the Bullhawks at 9:30, and Thursday against the Fish at 10:30. The first ice game of the season is Monday at 10:15 against Honkey Kong.