PORTLAND – While striving to rebuild its boys’ hockey program, Cheverus High is working on little things, like holding a lead.

Sending out your penalty-kill unit four times in the third period isn’t the best way to do it.

Still, the Stags survived the penalties Thursday night and held on to beat Noble 3-2 at the Portland Ice Arena.

This was a game between two of the dark horses in Western Class A. Cheverus improved to 4-0 while the Knights dropped to 4-1.

“I can’t complain where we’re at right now,” Noble Coach Keith St. Cyr said. “Still, I’d like us to perform better.”

Stags Coach Dan Lucas echoed those comments. His team has improved over last season.

“But we have a long way to go,” he said. “That was awful. It was an ugly win, bottom line.”

But there were moments to celebrate, like defenseman Harrison Ridge’s two goals, Liam Fitzpatrick’s heads-up hustling score, and the 26 saves by nimble goalie Max Boucher.

Noble got goals from Dana Woodworth and Gordon Potter, and 19 saves by Ben Haskell. But the Knights dug themselves a hole.

“We woke up the second half of the game,” St. Cyr said. “We were scrambling trying to play catch-up.

Woodworth’s rebound on a power play at 6:20 of the first period gave the Knights a 1-0 lead. Jesse Cotty and Spencer Goodrich had the assists.

Cheverus responded. Ridge kept control of the puck in a crowd and and forced a shot that slipped in at 14:24.

“It just found a way in,” Ridge said.

The Stags later had a two-minute five-on-three power play but failed to get a shot on net. Woodworth dominated during the penalty kill.

“They were playing like it was a hot potato, rushing it too much,” Lucas said. “We gave them a chance to get back in the game.”

Cheverus got its second penalty with four seconds left in the second period. The Stags went to the box three more times in the third.

“It got busy,” said Cheverus senior defenseman Josh Courtois, a member of the penalty-kill unit. Others helping kill the penalties included Ridge, Sean Barry, Nic Lops and Tom Sullivan.

During their last penalty kill, the Stags caught a break when Noble got a penalty of its own, forcing a four-on-four. Fitzpatrick controlled a turnover in the neutral zone and took off down the right side. John Cella hustled up the left.

Fitzpatrick crossed, Cella shot, and Fitzpatrick put in the rebound for a 3-1 lead at 10:02.

“(Fitzpatrick) carried it to the open side. John skated hard with him to get there and they made a great play,” Lucas said.

Potter scored at 12:19 (assists by Grady Wheeler and Chullainn Kelly), but the Knights could not tie it.

Both teams play at home Saturday, Noble against Marshwood and Cheverus against Lake Region. Then Cheverus and Noble will meet again next Wednesday at the Rochester (N.H.) Ice Arena.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com