With a comfortable cushion in first place going down the stretch, Silver Spring accomplished something Tuesday that they hadn’t done this season. They beat the Squirrels, the only team that has beaten them twice so far.

Silver Spring jumped out to a 1-0 lead only 44 seconds into the game. They increased it to 2-0 at 6:30. Ben Sumner wristed in a pass from Kit Watson on the power play and cut the lead to 2-1 at 7:09.

Six minutes into the second period, Silver Spring scored again before Rob Myers shot through a screen to keep the Squirrels in the game. Moments later, Silver Spring scored, then twice more and won 6-2.

Sumner, Watson, Myers, Desi Richelsen, Tony Richelsen, Phil Van der Vossen, Don Marks, Chris Wautel and Chris Long played for the Squirrels, along with goaltender Bob Sewell who kept the Squirrels in the game by turning away 30 shots.

The next game is Thursday, August 2, at 9 p.m. against Washington Whale.

It was a battle for first place Tuesday, as the Screaming Squirrels took on Silver Spring, a team that hasn’t lost, or even tied, since the first game of the season. And just like that first game of the season, the Squirrels came away with the victory – 3-2 – but this time in a much tighter game that could’ve gone either way.

Silver Spring got the scoring started on a power play with 3:11 remaining in the first period. The Squirrels weren’t short on opportunities during the first half, however, pouring on 15 shots, but skated into the half with a 1-0 deficit.

At 11:26 of the second period, on a power play, Ben Sumner won a faceoff directly to Jeff Ford on the left wing, and Ford wristed the puck home to tie the game. Unfortunately, seconds later Silver Spring retook the lead. But even then, the Squirrels didn’t panic, as Sumner got another pass to Ford for a goal to tie the game at 8:23. Less than a minute later, Chris Wautel scored the game-winning goal, and the Squirrels killed a late penalty to beat their rivals for the second time this season.

Bob Sewell made 20 saves in net, as the Squirrels put up 29 shots. The Squirrels played without Matt Borlik, Don Marks and Wade Marks. The next game is Tuesday, June 12, at 8 p.m. against the 5 Holes.

The rust was apparent, but the Squirrels shook it off in the second half and defeated Silver Spring, 8-5, on Tuesday.

Don Marks, Chris Long and the new guy, Chris Wautel, scored in the first half as the teams skated to a 3-3 draw. Silver Spring took the lead early in the second half, but then Jeff Ford got a centering pass from Ben Sumner to tie the game. Only 19 seconds later, Ford sent a pass back to new team captain Kit Watson, who took a slap shot which deflected off of the middle of Sumner’s stick into the net. Rob Myers scored with 1:43 remaining in the game to give the Squirrels a 6-4 lead. When Silver Spring pulled their goalie a minute later, Jeff Ford scored on the empty net. But then Silver Spring scored again, and pulled their goalie again. And Ford scored another empty-netter to get the hat-trick.

The Squirrels outshot Silver Spring 24-21. Juan Canchasto, Phil Van der Vossen, Matt Borlik and Chi Pham missed the game for the Squirrels, who have one of the deepest lineups in the league.

The next game is Tuesday, April 24, at 8:30 p.m. against The 5 Holes.