The Squirrels set themselves up for a comeback Tuesday, with a late 5-on-3 power play, but failed to convert and gave up a shorthanded goal, then another, and an empty-netter in a 5-3 loss.

Once again, continuing a disturbing trend to start the summer season, the Squirrels fell behind by giving up the first goal of the game, this time, on the very first shift of the game. They would fall behind 2-0 before finally getting on the board about mid-way through the 2nd period. In the end, the Squirrels could not entirely shut down the Laughing Skulls team and could not pot enough tallies to get the victory, and fell to 2-2 on the season.

Skulls forward John Lozupone opened the scoring a scant 24 seconds into the game with a knuckle ball floater from the top of the crease off of a feed from behind the net. As the 1st period wore on, the Squirrels seemed to struggle to get their feet under them at times and failed to generate much offense, while goalie Eric Coulson held the fort with several blocker, arm, and chest saves. The offensive woes continued on the power play in the 1st period, with the Squirrels going 0-3.

In the 2nd period, after going down by a deuce on the scoreboard, Brent Machado and newly signed free agent rookie, Tim Carter, brother of Squirrels veteran defenseman Dan Carter, decided they had had enough of this “Squirrels not scoring” crap and took matters into their own hands to score 2 straight and get the game tied up.  Brent’s goal came ala Mike Knuble, cleaning up the trash in the crease. Gotta love the dirty goals! Make a mess and clean it up! Tim’s first of the season came on an end-to-end rush (might we be seeing a lot of that this season “Timm-ah!”?) and a sharp angle as Tim just threw it on net and Skulls goalie Shane Smith misplayed it off the inside of his leg pad and into the back of the net. But alas, Eric could not keep the momentum going for his teamates and gave up a softie on a point shot.  “More then 9 times out of 10, I make that save. I don’t know what I was thinking really. Probably wasn’t. I saw it all the way. Just…I don’t know. It was a very deflating goal for me.”

In the 3rd period, Tim continued to lead the offense by himself, and on another zone to zone rush, picked a corner over the goalie’s glove hand and fired home a perfectly placed wrist shot. The Squirrels were back in it!!  Both teams likely knew the next goal would be the winner and tensions were high. Skull Eddie Zaruba, who had been skating strong all night, broke the deadlock with a rush right up the middle, splitting 2 Squirrels defensemen who decided to stop moving their feet to keep up with the rushing Skull, and beat Eric with a snapper 5-hole.

Additional notes:

– The Squirrels have failed to score more than 3 goals in any of the 4 games they’ve played this season.

– Defensman Dan Carter returned from a rumored hand injury to play big minutes.

– Forward Jeff Headlee had a strong game, using his speed to disrupt the Skulls’ breakouts and causing several turnovers.

– After a one game absence, forward Dave Fronapfel returned to the line up and played well, handling the puck skillfully and getting the puck up ice on a few rushes.

– Defenseman Des Richelsen is 3rd in the league in PIMs with 12.

– With an assist on Brent’s goal, forward Ben Sumner has a 2 game point scoring streak.

– Team scoring leader Brent Machado, with 5 points (3G, 2A), more than double any one else on the roster, is the only Squirrel on the league’s scoring leaderboard.

-Team’s next game is Sunday, May 23rd @ 10:10 PM against the league leading Heineken Light.