The offense came alive last night as the Squirrels downed the Vikings, 9-0. It took a little while for things to get going, but once it did, it was raining goals on Vikings goalie Greg Mumma. It was enough to make a goalie cry!

Leading the way for the Squirrels was Brent Machado with 2 goals and 3 assists, Mark Tessar with 3 goals, and Tony Richelsen with a goal and 2 assists. Every Squirrels skater on the roster recorded at least one point.

After scoring only once in the opening 15 minute period, the Squirrels exploded for 5 in the 2nd and 3 more in the 3rd. Goalie Eric Coulson was not severely tested but did have to make a few strong saves to preserve the shutout.

With the win, the Squirrels move to 11-7-1 and 23 standings points, good for 4th in the Bronze 2 Division with 2 games remaining. Next game is Sunday, March 20th against the first place Highlanders.

For the first time in recent memory, the Screaming Squirrels played with three full lines, and the results worked out very well. Hurting for offense throughout most of the season, the Squirrels put up 7 against the Vikings on Monday, before the penalty minutes started piling up for both teams. Jason Nehmer scored twice for the Squirrels while Rob Myers had a goal and two assists.

Since losing their first game of the season, the Squirrels have responded with two straight victories, the second of which came last night at the expense of the Vikings. An early goal from defenseman Kyle Gassert set the tone as the Squirrels held off a somewhat stronger Vikings team than last Fall/Winter season’s edition.

Gassert’s blistering slap shot from outside of the offensive zone only :30 into the game eluded a stunned Greg Mumma. The Squirrels were unable to capitalize on a few other 1st period chances and the 1st ended with the Squirrels up 1-0.

A late 1st period penalty by Tony Richelsen was cashed in on by the Vikings less than a minute into the 2nd period after a frantic flurry in front of goalie Eric Coulson. The Squirrels answered with three straight goals, one from Bob Valdes, and two in a row from Richelsen and it appeared the rout was on. But hold the phone! Vikings hot shot Charlie Ryland decided to take matters into his own hands and went coast to coast while his team was shorthanded and put one past Coulson’s blocker side to get his team back within two.

The third period opened with the Vikings really making it a game, as Ryland was left open to Coulson’s left and was able to slam home a costly Squirrels defensive-zone turnover into the back of the net. Would the Vikings be able to pull off an unbelievable come-from-behind victory? Not if Jason Nehmer had anything to say about it folks! Playing his first game of the season for the Squirrels, Nehmer suddenly got hungry for goals and decided to put the game out of reach, scoring two goals in the span of about 3 minutes, putting the proverbial nail in the Vikings’ coffin.

Coulson finished with 23 saves, Richelsen and Nehmer both had 2 goals with Nehmer adding an assist, and Valdes and Gassert had the other goals. Assists were credited to Doug “-ie Fresh” Winters, Jeff  “Speedy” Headlee, Mike “Not the NHLer” Ricci, and Jeff “I Wish I Was Canadian” Bobeck.

The Squirrels’ next game is scheduled for this Sunday the 17th at 10PM against the Nordiques (2-1) who are currently tied with the Squirrels in the standings. The game should have a playoff intensity!

The Squirrels steamrolled a team that seemed to have far more talent than they used. The Vikings showed every sign of being able to score goals, but a tight defensive game by the Squirrels held them to only two goals as the Squirrels forced a running clock late in the second period. With tempers hot, things got ugly unnecessarily.