Entering the third period Sunday with a 4-1 lead, the Screaming Squirrels could feel it. Two months since their previous victory, they desperately needed a win in the newly aligned HNA divisions. They got it, holding on to beat the Tigers, 5-4, in the Wheaton Outdoor rink.
Ben Sumner got the scoring started with a quick wrist shot off of Matt Borlik’s centering pass in the first period. The Tigers later tied it with a floating shot from the point. In the second period, the Squirrels scored three goals in a 3 minute-25 second span. Oriana Senatore knocked in a rebound for her first goal of the year. Don Marks, playing forward for the first time this season, scored unassisted soon after. About a minute later, defenseman Chi Pham hit winger Greg Wenograd with a breakaway pass, and Wenograd knocked it by the Tigers’ substitute goaltender to put the Squirrels up by three after two periods.
The Tigers didn’t quit. They got two breakout goals in the third period û one on the power play û before Borlik scored to make it 5-3. The Tigers moved within one with 30 seconds remaining, but the Squirrels killed the remaining time and snapped a five-game losing streak.
Drew Thiemann made 31 saves in net behind a shortened-bench defense. The Squirrels skated without Jon Magi and Charles Wolstein. Forwards Chris Long and Robin Berlin also missed the game.
Pham skated his first game of the season for the Squirrels, subbing for the injured Joseph Wu. Wu injured his groin back in October and says he is about 80% cured.
The Squirrels next play the Green Hornets in the Wheaton Outdoor rink on Jan. 24 at 8:30 p.m.