LEWISTON — You probably could count the number of Monday night games in the history of Lewiston and St. Dom's titanic hockey rivalry on one hand.
Lewiston players celebrate with Patrick DeBlois, back, after he scroed the fourth and final goal of the game during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Despite being knocked down by a pair of St. Dominic players, Lewiston's Kyle Ullrich looks for a teammate to pass the puck to during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Lewiston's Evan Gosselin and Saint Dominic Academy's Brad Berube vye for the puck along the boards during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Cam Stewart, left and Kyle Lemelin battle for a faceoff during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
The puck sails just over the blocker of Lewiston goalie Evan Bourassa on it's way to the back of the net off slap shot tip from Saint Doms' Calvin Steward for the lone score for the Saints during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Lewiston's Bryan Hall uses his body to take Saint Doms' Calvin Stewart out of the play while fighting for the puck during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
Kyle Holtet, left and Kalvin Stewart of Saint Dom's try to slow down Lewiston's Kyle Lemelin during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
And with the remaining fingers, there likely would be room to account for the total times that the winning school has held the vanquished to single-digit shots on goal.
The puck only reached Lewiston goaltender Evan Bourassa nine times, including twice in the first period and not at all in the second. Two goals by Kyle Lemelin led a scoring flurry that was more than enough in a 4-1 Blue Devils triumph at Androscoggin Bank Colisee.
"We talk about good team defense," Lewiston coach Jamie Belleau said. "Any time St. Dom's got a quick transition, our forwards were coming back to put sticks in the lanes. Just a good effort. It's a good time for us to have that kind of effort."
Lewiston (10-2-1) has won seven straight games, allowing only 17 goals all season.
The defeat snapped an eight-game winning streak for St. Dom's (9-4-1), including a 4-1 loss on the ice to Greely that was overturned because the Rangers used an ineligible player.
"Our defense has been consistent all year," said junior defenseman Patrick DeBlois, who notched a goal and two assists. "I think that's the best part of our game right now. We've just got to keep it up, and hopefully good things will happen."
Lemelin's goals were his team-leading 10th and 11th of the season.
Tanner Hubbard and Lemelin scored in a 37-second span to give the Devils a commanding 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Each goal came off a deflection.
Hubbard, a senior, was credited with his first goal of the season when Bryan Hall's service from the right point caromed into the net off the hip of a St. Dom's defender. Eddie Emerson also registered an assist at 4:50.
Lewiston's encore came from the other side of the St. Dom's blue line. Lemelin tipped Patrick DeBlois' blast just inside the near post past St. Dom's goalie Austin Christopher. The second assist went to Evan Gosselin at 5:27.
"I passed the puck to Patrick, and I've been hearing from my coach, 'Go to the net. Just go to the net.' I haven't been doing it all year," Lemelin said. "I happened to go to the net and the puck came right in front of me. I put my stick out and I tipped it, and it magically went in."
How infrequent were the Saints' productive forays with the puck? They more than doubled their previous output of shots in a 20-second stretch during the first of two third-period power plays.
Bourassa made a waist-high glove save to stone the third and final bid as the penalty expired.
Will Desmarais and Matt Chasse were out of the lineup for the Saints, taking a huge bite out of their defensive depth.
"That second goal was an unfortunate break for us. I think what really happened was getting the third one so quick took the wind out of our sails," St. Dom's coach Steve Ouellette said. "(Lewiston) knew we were short-benched. They were pinching all night long, keepng the puck deep in our zone. They had a good game plan for knowing what we had tonight."
Calvin Stewart scored on the power play courtesy of Chase Hainey for the Saints to make it 3-1 with 5:03 remaining.
DeBlois responded with an unassisted goal 45 seconds later to put it away. He rang one in off the left post after a rush from beyond center ice.
"We just keep getting better and better, and we've got to keep up the effort," DeBlois said.
Lewiston was territorially dominant in the first period, too. The Blue Devils enjoyed an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal, with several other blasts sailing just wide of Christopher.
The quickness of Lemelin and DeBlois created one goal and nearly led to two more.
Lemelin poked the puck through a defender's legs and skated in alone on Christopher for the goal at 6:53. DeBlois notched the assist.
Christopher made a low glove save to stymie another blistering bid by Lemelin moments later.
And in the final two minutes of the period, it was DeBlois zigzagging through a maze of black-and-white to uncork one at the feet of Christopher, who redirected it to the boards with his stick for one of his 22 saves.
Lewiston's Ethan Melvin stifled St. Dom's best hope of the period, tying up Dylan Pratt long enough to take the steam out of a breakaway.
"The first period I was actually pretty happy with. Yeah, we didn't generate much offense, but we didn't give them many chances. We blocked a lot of shots. They really didn't get anything in tight," Ouellette said. "That breakaway chance, if we get that, the first period is probably different."
The smothering defense was standard procedure for the Blue Devils.
Only one opponent has scored more than a pair at Lewiston's expense. Lewiston and St. Dom's tied 2-2 in their previous meeting Dec. 22.
"When get three goals, we think we're going to have a pretty good chance to win the game," Belleau said.
Lewiston's Patrick DeBlois watches his shot bounce off the back of the net after scoring on St. Dominic Academy goalie Austin Christopher during Monday night's boys varsity hockey game between Saint Dominic Academy and Lewiston High School at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston.
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