By Justin Pelletier,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Staring Nick Payson in the face is never fun if you are wearing two large leg pads and are standing between two pipes in a blue crease.

All season, goaltenders have fallen victim to the Bangor sniper. On Wednesday, though, Brian Nason stood, er, flopped tall, stopping Payson twice on breakaways to help Lewiston pull off a 3-2 win over the Rams.

In the Blue Devils’ previous game, it was Nick Langlais providing the goaltending heroics, stuffing Ted Fabien, Bert Marston and the Messalonskee Eagles 36 times in a 2-1 win.

“Goaltending is always a key in the playoffs,” said Lewiston coach Tim Smith. “Back in 2002, Matt Roy had a great run and really gave the team confidence to go out and play well in the playoffs, and anytime a goaltender can make a big save, it really helps the team as a whole think it has the chance to win.”

While most teams are happy to have one solid netminder thrown their way every four years, Lewiston always seems to find at least one. This year, it’s two.

“Either one of us, when we’re in there, we have to do the job well,” said Langlais. “The team has confidence in both of us. I actually like having a game off here and there. Playing 10 games in a row, that’s tough. It’s a lot of pressure, and it’s kind of nice to have somebody come and support you.”

“I think it’s a good thing, too” added Nason. “It gives us a break and gives us enough time to think about which games we’re playing and which teams we play against. It makes us work harder and earn the spot.”

From the beginning of the season, the job was Langlais’ to lose. He is, after all, a senior. He also played in some big games last season, and seemed ready for the job.

But so, too, did Nason.

“At the beginning of the year, I figured it was (Langlais’) job, and I had to earn my way in to sharing time,” said Nason.

The two netminders split time until early January, when Nason had to sit for academic reasons.

“I wanted to play really bad, and it just killed me,” said Nason. “When I came back, I just came back strong. I thought the coaches would have him start the rest of the way, but I’m glad they gave me another chance to prove myself.”

Langlais strapped the team on his back. After a spurt of three losses, the team righted the ship. Now, it has lost once in the last 12 games.

“I told the goalies it would take both of them to win it all this year,” said Smith. “So far, they haven’t proven me wrong.”

The playoffs have been a proving ground for both netminders.

“It’s just a rotation we’re using,” said Smith. “At the beginning of the playoffs we knew we wanted to go with two goaltenders. Brian’s had some success against EL, so he went in that game. Nick went a game against Messalonskee before and played well, so he got that one, and Bangor had never seen Nason, so I figured that would be an advantage. A kid like a Payson that studies goaltenders would more likely be thrown off by one he had never seen.”

And forget about a rivalry. The two netminders have played together for more than 10 years, and there is no ill will between them.

“I don’t know why we get along so well, we just do,” said Nason. “Nick and I, we’ve been playing since mites. We played selects and travel together all along.”

“We’re good friends, and if either one of us plays, we support each other,” added Langlais.

The biggest question between them now is which one gets the start in the Class A state title game.

“It’s a game-time decision,” Smith said with a smirk.

“Nah, he hasn’t said anything, but it’s killing me,” Nason said as a look of anguish crossed his face. “It took both of us to get here, and it could be either one of us.”