LEWISTON — A night after falling behind bit them, the Maine Nordiques made sure to get ahead and stay there.

The Nordiques finished the first period strong and kept their distance from the New Jersey Titans for a 6-3 win in an NAHL East Division matchup at The Colisee on Saturday night.

The Titans opened the two-game weekend series Friday with a 6-5 shootout win in which the Nordiques never led.

In the rematch on Saturday, Maine (33-12-1-5, 72 points) scored three goals in the first period, including two in the final 90 seconds, and outshot New Jersey 17-5 to go up 3-0. Nicholas Bernardo, Jake Bernadet and Kellen Murphy all lit the lamp, with Bernardo and Murphy each converting on a power play.

Dominick Rivelli got the Titans (28-21-3-0, 59 points) on the scoreboard 24 seconds into the second period, but Tomek Haula and Charles Tardif scored 25 seconds apart in the fifth minute of the frame to make it 5-1.

Logan Renkowski and Ryan Novo scored for the Titans to cut the score to 5-3 heading into the second intermission.

Tardif tallied an empty-netter for his second goal of the game and 32nd of the season in the final minute of the contest.

Tardif, Bernardo, Murphy, Kozlina and Bernadet each recorded two points in the game, and Matthew Lewis and Ryan Panico added assists for the Nordiques.

Carter Richardson stopped 31 of 34 shots in goal for Maine. Zakari Brice made 16 saves for New Jersey before being relieved by Dylan Krick, who stopped all 14 shots he faced.

Maine ends the weekend with a postseason berth clinched. The Nordiques, who sit three points behind the division-leading Marylan Black Bears, return to action next Friday on the road at the Danbury (Connecticut) Jr. Hat Tricks.

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