LEWISTON – Neither Lewiston nor Biddeford can seem to shake that feeling of “been there, done that.”

It’s easy to understand why Biddeford would want to remember. Last year, the Tigers capped their season with their first Class A state title, and second overall.

They haven’t lost since, and now sit at 23-0 in league play.

“It’s great to be undefeated, but it would be even better to win a state championship,” Biddeford coach Jamie Gagnon said. “That’s been more of the focus this year.”

The Blue Devils, meanwhile, nearly equaled Biddeford, losing just three regular-season games. They now sit at 19-3-1.

“They have a team where there isn’t a lot of drop-off between the first, second or third lines,” Gagnon said.

Last year’s loss was Lewiston’s third consecutive loss in the Class A state title game. In order to turn that result around, the coaching staff knows the team needs to change its attitude.

“I think we’re going to be a little better prepared this year,” Gagne said. “I hope we’re going to have a little bit more composure. That three- or four-minute span in the second period last year, where we got a couple of penalties and they got two power play goals, that was the game.”

By the numbers, the teams have been equal in their respective divisions. Through 23 games (including playoffs), Lewiston has four players with more than 40 points. The Tigers have four with 37 or better, and two – Brian Dumoulin and Nick Reny – with more than 50.

“I think on offense, both teams can roll two lines,” Gagne said.

The X-factor all season for Biddeford has been its power play. The Tigers clocked at 36.6 percent with the extra skater. They scored five times on the power play against Scarborough in the Western Class A semifinals, and their lone goal in regulation against Kennebunk on Wednesday came on a 4-on-3.

“It comes down to, we have to stay out of the box,” Gagne said. “That’s what killed us last year.”

On the other end of things is, of course, goaltending.

Perhaps the greatest single reason Biddeford is even playing in the title game is senior Tony Dube, who was spectacular against Kennebunk with 40 saves.

Last year, he made 18 in the third period of the championship game as Lewiston tried to come back.

“We need to try to get traffic in front and get to him early,” Gagne said.

Lewiston starts freshman Cam Poussard, who, two days before the big game, was as calm as could be.

“My biggest concern, obviously, is (Brian) Dumoulin, (Nick) Reny and (Cam) Madore,” Cam Poussard said. “But I feel that if I’m on top of my game, that I can shut them down.”

The last time Gagne started a freshman between the pipes in a state title game? Trapper Clark at Waterville.

“I’m hoping that that’s going to come back and work again,” Gagne laughed.

Gagne also pointed out this week that the last team to defeat Biddeford in a league game was, in fact, Lewiston, a 5-4 game at the Colisee last season.

In that game, the Devils scored five goals. In each of their playoff wins, Lewiston has scored exactly five goals.

Not that anyone is superstitious, or anything.