Two points from moving into a tie for third place with Enigma, the Squirrels didn’t gain any ground Wednesday as the teams skated away with a 2-2 tie. The Squirrels were lucky to even get that.

Neither team scored in the first period, though Enigma had two power plays. Neither team scored in the first 12 minutes of the second period, either, though Enigma had three power plays. But the biggest call came at 7:23 when Jeff Ford got a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing, a penalty that wouldn’t expire no matter how many times Enigma scored.

Then Ben Sumner drew a high sticking call, sending Enigma defender Eric Rosengarten out of the game, plus giving the Squirrels two minutes of three-on-three hockey during Ford’s major.

The game opened up. Rob Myers had a breakaway. Stopped. Then Jon Magi had one, and put the Squirrels up 1-0 with five minutes to play. Moments later, Don Marks scored what appeared to be a goal to put the Squirrels up 2-0, but it was called back because of a slight crease violation.

Then Enigma tied the game on the initial power play as the puck came out of Bob Sewell’s glove and fell into the net. Enigma went up 2-1 less than a minute later on a delayed penalty by the Squirrels.

About 45 seconds later, Sumner drew yet another high sticking penalty, sending another Enigma player to the box for the remainder of the game and giving the Squirrels another shot on the power play. This time, Marks made it count, scoring on a slap shot from the right circle with a minute to play.

The Squirrels outshot Enigma, 22-18, including 16-10 in the second period. The Squirrels played without Matt Borlik, Tony Richelsen, and Kit Watson. The next game is Thursday, at 7:30 p.m. against Silver Spring.

Playing their first game ever against Enigma on Tuesday, the Squirrels managed a 2-1 lead by the half before blowing open the game for a 7-2 victory.

Wearing the taboo jersey no. 99 (because it was the spare one that the Squirrels ordered), Juan Canchasto felt added pressure to put up some points, and did. With a few nifty moves to fake out the goaltender, Canchasto got the scoring started two minutes into the first period. Enigma tied the game five minutes later, but with 24 seconds remaining in the period, Ed Bager scored on a backhand shot to give the Squirrels the lead again.

In the second period, Canchasto scored his second goal from behind the net as the puck bounced off of a defender and went in. Enigma cut the score to 4-2 with a power play goal, but it was all Squirrels after that. Jon Magi, Ben Sumner, Kit Watson and Desi Richelsen contributed to the five-goal second period.

The Squirrels put up 23 shots on net. Enigma, the only team so far to beat first place Silver Spring, had 10 shots against Squirrels goaltender Bob Sewell.

The Squirrels played without Tony Richelsen, Don Marks, Matt Borlik, Rob Myers, and Jeff Ford.

The next game is Thursday, June 15, at 8:30 p.m. against Storm, a team still winless in the division.