Tony Richelsen has been on a tear lately, scoring 11 goals in the last five games, including two critical ones in the Squirrels’ 4-3 playoff victory against Syracuse on Thursday. The win puts the Squirrels in the championship game Monday against top-seeded Dog Star, who beat the Nordiques earlier in the evening.
Richelsen got the scoring started in the first period, and Don Marks slapped in a shot from the point to give the Squirrels the early lead.
In the second period, Ed Bager shot the puck from the far left side of the net and it somehow got through.
Soon after, Syracuse scored on a slap shot from the blue line, and several minutes later, and the score was suddenly 3-2.
On an extended shift in the third period, Richelsen got a puck to bounce in the net to put the Squirrels back up by two. Syracuse answered on a fast break, but the Squirrels held on with three minutes remaining, killing a penalty in the process.
The Squirrels played without Sergio Balatan and Chi Pham. The Squirrels have lost to Dog Star twice this season, but beat them 4-3 back on March 9.
The championship game is Monday, at 9:30 p.m. in the Logsdon pavilion.