Laughing Skulls 3, Squirrels 2

With only seven skaters, the Squirrels put up a valiant effort Monday, but ran out of gas in a 3-2 loss to the Laughing Skulls. Despite the loss, the Squirrels held a 2-0 first period lead and had plenty of chances to score down the stretch.

In the first period, Ben Sumner intercepted a cross-ice pass while facing away from the net, then sent a no-look backhander past Skulls goalie Shane Smith. Near the end of the period, Bob Valdes redirected a shot in to give the Squirrels a 2-0 lead.

The Skulls scored early in the second period, but the Squirrels still held the lead until late in the period, when they gave up a power play goal during Tony Richelsen’s only break during the otherwise ironman game.

The Skulls scored the winning goal early in the third but the Squirrels couldn’t find the equalizer, even with a late power play and a pulled goalie.