LEWISTON — Just two days after losing their first game of the season, the Lewiston boys hockey team got back to winning on Friday night in a rematch of last winter’s regional final. Junior Alex Robert had a goal and an assist as the top-seeded Blue Devils handed visiting Bangor a 3-1 loss in a Class A North meeting at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
Sam Deroche and Evan Cox also scored for Lewiston (11-1-0), with Cox’s goal standing up as the eventual game winner. Nick Boudreau scored his 10th goal of the season for Bangor (7-4-0), which entered the weekend third in the regional standings behind Lewiston and Edward Little.
QUICK STARTS: Lewiston scored early in all three periods against Bangor. The early goals were especially crucial in the second and third periods, when the Blue Devils were able to thwart any comeback hopes on the part of Bangor.
Deroche and Boudreau traded first-period goals to tie the game through the opening 15 minutes, but Cox jammed home the rebound of a Robert shot at the right post just 1:17 into the second to put Lewiston ahead for good.
“We wanted to have a good start, and getting a goal early was positive,” Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. “Certainly, we can build off that.”
In the third period, Robert finished off a nice backdoor play from Sam Frechette 2:35 into the third period to provide Lewiston with plenty of cushion.
STEPPING UP: On Wednesday night at home Lewiston lost to Class A South-leading Cheverus/Kennebunk, but they responded on Friday against Bangor.
“We moved the puck a lot more and everyone kept their positive attitudes,” Robert said. “Gunnar Wade really got the boys going between the second and third period, which had a huge impact… I’d say our third period was our best period.”
Belleau noted that it was a significant performance for the Blue Devils, who are carrying the pressure of being the two-time defending Class A state champions.
“We played with a little bit more urgency than we did, definitely, against Cheverus,” Belleau said. “We’re going to take it, because we don’t have to be perfect now. Everybody in Lewiston always wants us to be perfect all the time, but we only need to be perfect when it counts.
“We’re going to get better and we’re going to learn from our mistakes. We’re 11-1, so we’ll take that and keep working. We understand what we’re facing. There’s a lot of pressure put on those kids, and it’s our job as coaches and as a group to keep improving, keep them positive, and we’ll get better.”
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Bangor’s best performance of the night belonged to junior goalie Jacob Henry, who finished with 40 saves. He entered the night with a save percentage above .900 and a goals against average well below 3.00.
“He took a lot of great shots. He had to make some big saves for us at key times,” Bangor coach Quinn Paradis said. “He couldn’t always see the puck, but he got his pads on it. I thought he controlled his rebounds pretty well, too.”
At the other end of the rink, Jacob Smith made made 11 saves for Lewiston.
UP NEXT: In an odd twist of scheduling, Class B Gardiner is the next opponent for both teams. Bangor hosts the Tigers on Tuesday night, while the Blue Devils will face them at the Colisee on Thursday. Lewiston and Bangor will play again Feb. 9.
Travis Barrett — 621-5621
tbarrett@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @TBarrettGWC
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