LEWISTON – Five years ago, if anyone said that Edward Little could remain undefeated against Lewiston on a hockey rink for three straight games, laughter would be a likely response.

No more.

For the seventh straight game between the two teams, Lewiston came out without a win, falling at home to Edward Little 5-1 in front of a solid crowd at the Central Maine Civic Center.

“That win was all about hard work and discipline,” Edward Little coach Jamie Belleau said. “Our team knows that a lot of teams will be playing the body hard on us, and one of our strengths has to be team speed combined with discipline. You keep those legs moving and don;t take any penalties in retaliation, and you’ll come out O.K.”

Lewiston suffered on the penalty kill, allowing three goals on six Edward Little opportunities, while scoring once on four power play chances, although two of those were abbreviated.

“Any time you can get your special teams going, that’s going to help you out,” Belleau said. “We work on that in practice all of the time because that becomes part of being smart and not taking penalties.”

Strategy was the big theme in the first period, with Edward Little outshooting Lewiston 10-2. Kyle Smith and Colby Gilbert combined on two goals on those 10 shots to give the Red Eddies a lead they would not relinquish. The highlight goal of the game was Smith’s, which gave Edward Little a 1-0 lead.

After taking a pass behind the net, Smith tried a wrap-around, but was hauled down from behind. With the Lewiston defender still on his back, and while laying on his stomach, Smith slid the puck to the far side of the net, banking it off of the right post and in past a stunned Nick Langlais.

Gilbert added the second with six seconds showing on the clock.

Mert Gould gave EL a 3-0 lead less than minute into the second on a power play tally from the left circle, while Joe Gauthier potted Lewiston’s only goal of the night at 7:42 to draw the Blue Devils within two at 3-1.

Smith and Gilbert each scored their second goals of the night in the third to pull the Red Eddies to an insurmountable lead by 9:18 of the final period.

Lewiston coach Tim Smith was unavailable for comment following the game.

[email protected]