When the Brunswick High School boys hockey team faced talented and rugged Bangor on Valentine’s Day at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, Dragons coach Bill Bodwell admitted that he made a tactical error.

His top line of seniors throughout the season, Tyler Sullivan, Jared Parent and Jacob McGowan, were split up, the hopes being the move might give the Rams some fits having to face three solid lines.

The move backfired, with Bangor darting out to a 6-0 first-period lead en route to a 10-2 win.

The teams are scheduled to meet tonight at 6: 30 p. m. at Sawyer Arena in Bangor for an Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinal matchup, and Bodwell has said he will not make the same mistake twice.

“We skated up and down the ice with Bangor after that first period and were able to get some offense in transition,” said Bodwell of his sixth-seeded Dragons. “ Those three guys on that first line are in the top seven in the state in scoring. We will need their scoring against Bangor, plus get some contributions from the other lines to have a chance.”

Sullivan stands in third place in scoring with 43 points ( 18 goals, 25 assists), while Parent (20-18-38) and McGowan (21-17-38) are tied for seventh.

“They are a tough line to play against, possibly one of the toughest in the state,” said Bodwell.

Growing pains

Coming into the season, Bodwell, in his first year leading the boys after several seasons as coach of the Brunswick girls hockey team, knew he had a young team, especially on defense. Still, the Dragons started the season with an 8-1 mark and sat in second place in Eastern A.

“Their progress has been fantastic,” said Bodwell of his defense, led by Nate Granholm (5- 6- 11) and Andrew Eno ( 2- 5- 7). “ Playing with physicality and improving on defensive zone coverage has come a long way. Playing defense is hard, but they have grown.”

After the solid start, the schedule became tougher, with games against St. Dom’s ( an 8- 2 loss), Cheverus (8-1 setback), two with Lawrence/ Skowhegan ( 8- 4 loss and 6- 5 setback in overtime), along with losses on back-to-back nights against Lewiston (7-0) and Bangor. But, late-season victories over Poland-Gray-New Gloucester ( 6- 3), Portland/ Deering ( 4- 3 in overtime) and Cony/Monmouth (3-2) has Brunswick entering the playoffs on a three-game winning streak.

“We played two rugged games back to back against Lewiston and Bangor, two teams that go to the net hard,” said Bodwell. “Bangor plays a heavy brand of hockey and gets to rebounds in front of the net.”

In goal, senior Devin Allard is expected to get the start tonight, while CJ Connor is the back-up. Bodwell said he is not afraid to make a switch between the pipes, and has told both goaltenders to be ready for action.

The coach feels his team has a chance of staying with the tradition- rich Rams, who are 12- 6 and the No. 3 seed in Eastern A.

“ I think we can skate with them,” said Bodwell. “ We need to stay out of the penalty box. We need strong goaltending, get good fore- and back-checking, and limit our mistakes.”

In other quarterfinal action in Eastern A tonight, No. 7 Windham (7- 9- 2) visits second- seeded Lewiston ( 12- 5- 1) at 7: 10 p. m. at the Colisee, and fourth-seeded Lawrence/Skowhegan (11- 6- 1) plays host to No. 5 Edward Little ( 9- 9) at Sukee Arena in Winslow at 5 p.m.

Eastern A Hockey Quarterfinals

Tonight
No. 7 Windham (7-9-2) at No. 2 Lewiston (12-5-1), 7:10 p.m.
No. 6 Brunswick (11-7) at No. 3 Bangor (12-6), 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Edward Little (9-9) at No. 4 Lawrence/Skowhegan, 5 p.m.
Semifinals
Saturday, at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee
Edward Little-Lawrence/Skowhegan winner vs. No. 1 St. Dom’s (15-2-1), noon or 2
p.m.
Windham/Lewiston winner vs. Brunswick/Bangor winner, noon or 2 p.m.
Regional Championship
Tuesday, March 3, at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee
Semifinal winners, 6 or 8 p.m.
State Class A Championship
Saturday, March 8, at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee
Eastern A vs. Western A, 6 p.m.