In a game that started last week and ended today, the Screaming Squirrels couldn’t overcome a short bench and ran out of time against a lower-seeded Stealthy Choice in the first round of the playoffs.

The Squirrels were in trouble last week, trailing 2-0 before the game was called in the second period due to ice conditions. The break gave the Squirrels some momentum, however. While the Squirrels had one fewer player this time, Stealthy Choice only had two subs and was forced to play defensively most of the game.

The Squirrels got one third period goal, and had plenty of chances, but Stealthy Choice held on for the victory and sealed it with an empty net.

The Squirrels snapped a losing skid Sunday, winning the little battles despite having only two subs as they beat Stealthy Choice, 5-1.

Tony Richelsen got the scoring started in the first period as he was left alone in the low slot for a slam-dunk. In the second period, Brent Machado and Vivek Pinto made a mad dash for the net to start the period, giving the Squirrels a 2-0 lead. About halfway through the game, Stealthy Choice finally got a puck past the goal line, squeezing it through Torrey Pocock’s right side on a wrap-around. A few minutes later, Chi Pham took the puck on a 2-on-1 and roofed a shot to regain the 2-goal lead.

With plenty of time left and tired legs, the Squirrels still managed to shut down Stealthy Choice in the third period. Ben Sumner scored twice, once on a back-hand whack, and another on a second-chance under the goalie’s pads. Pham assisted on both.

The last game of the season is Monday at 8 p.m.

A very bad first period wasn’t surmountable for the Squirrels on Thursday, as they gave up 5 goals en route to an 8-4 loss. Three straight goals in the third did cut the lead to 7-4, but that’s as close as the Squirrels could get. Don Marks had two goals and an assist. Terry Young and Neil Shah also scored.