AUBURN — A last-minute change of the lines sparked St. Dom’s to a 4-2 victory over Edward Little in the opening round of the St. Dom’s Christmas Classic at Norway Savings Bank Arena.

Saints coach Marc Frenette put juniors Ben Dumais and Spencer Morgan with freshman Finley Cavers on one line, and Deano Scalia with Curtis Wheeler and Connor St. George on another.

The move paid off. Morgan recorded a hat trick, while Scalia also scored for the Saints (4-1)

“Ben broke that line out all night,” Frenette said of Dumais playing with Morgan and Cavers. “You know, we moved him, so that was part of that lineup adjustment, is we decided to take Ben off of a wing, put him at center, put Finley on the wing, and Finley being left-handed, it kind of forced us to put Dino on the other side. So it definitely made us stronger down the middle. Ben did a great job breaking the team out, and that freed up Spencer to do what he does, be creative and possess the puck.”

Frenette wanted to put his shooters together. Through five games of the regular season, Morgan has nine goals and one assist. His 10 points are first on the team and second in Class A.

Morgan said he is going to the crease more than he did last season, when he had seven goals and six assists.

“So far, most of my goals have just been driving the net and my teammates have been feeding me. So it’s been nice; it’s just our lines are clicking, and it’s going great,” Morgan said.

Dumais, who had an assist on each of Morgan’s first two goals Thursday, said Morgan is always in the right spot.

“At least the first two goals, he was just in a great spot,” Dumais said. “His first goal, I was credited with a good assist, but it was all luck. He was in a great spot at the right time. And it was all luck. I passed one right to him. On his second one, he had a great net drive – put the puck in the net. So, just being in the right place at the right time, that level of awareness is great.”

Edward Little (1-3) had a 1-0 lead in the second period. Scalia tied the game late in the second before Morgan scored less than a minute later to give St. Dom’s a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

It was Scalia’s fourth goal of the season.

“I think that line’s going to work really well,” Frenette said of the Scalia line. “Curtis brings a little girth and strength. Connor, you know, he was causing chaos out there, and Deano was finding open ice, and he got a great shot off. Hopefully, that formula continues to work.”

The Saints will play Mt. Ararat/Lisbon/Morse in the second round of the tournament at 2 p.m. Friday.

EDWARD LITTLE FIGURING THINGS OUT

Edward Little coach Kevin Smith said some aspects are working for the Red Eddies, but they have other things to work on.

It was the Red Eddies’ second loss this week, after a 4-1 defeat Monday against Thornton Academy that included two empty-net goals.

“We see spurts of good things and spurts of improvement, but when we get the wind taken out of the sails in situations like that, it kind of puts us in a hole that we’re having a hard time climbing out of right now,” Smith said.

Breccan Albert scored Edward Little’s first goal.

“Breccan Albert played the best game of the season tonight; he got that goal, he got pucks on net, he played a really good defensive game,” Smith said. “I also think Cam Roy on the blue line; he was winning pucks. He was getting pucks to the net.”

Edward Little faces Guilford (Conn.) at 2:20 p.m. Friday in the consolation bracket.