BRUNSWICK

The Maine high school boys hockey playoffs are set to begin today, and the Brunswick boys are primed to make a run in Class B South.

The Dragons finished 9-8-1 this season, but a key winning streak over three of the top five teams in the region propelled Brunswick upwards in the standings, giving the Dragons the No. 3 seed.

“I am very happy with the way the season has gone,” said Brunswick coach Bill Bodwell, whose Dragons will host sixth-seeded Cape Elizabeth at Bowdoin College’s Sidney J. Watson Arena tonight at 8 p.m. in a quarterfinal. “The boys worked hard and definitely met expectations.”

Bodwell remembers his team’s big winning streak, which saw the Dragons down Yarmouth, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, 4-2, followed by wins over York (No. 4 seed), 6-5, and Kennebunk (No. 5), 6-3.

“The York win was big after losing to them the first time (3-1), having to play at Dover, N.H.,” said Bodwell. “Then we picked up the win over Yarmouth, which was huge.”

There were some down times this season as well for Brunswick.

“Coming out of our rivalry games with Mt. Ararat (10-4 and 4-2 wins for the Dragons), it was tough to ramp back up from that emotional high,” said Bodwell as his team fell to Cape Elizabeth at home, 4-1, back on Jan. 9 after playing to a hard-fought 2-2 deadlock against the Capers on the road on Dec. 28.

Cape Elizabeth comes into tonight’s contest playing well. Despite their 7-9-2 record, the Capers ended the regular season with back-to-back wins over second seeded Gardiner (3-1) and Yarmouth (2-1).

“Cape played a tough schedule, facing Edward Little, Cheverus and Scarborough, and is a well-tested team,” said Bodwell. “When we tied them on the road, they had a penalty shot in overtime that our goaltender (Riley Kirk) stopped. We were flat in the rematch. Their goal-tending is good, and I believe goal-tending will be a factor in the quarterfinal.”

Season review

Brunswick struggled at home in the early stages of the season, dropping five of its first six games inside Watson Arena. But, the Dragons won their final three contests on home ice, including a 4-3 victory over Gorham on Feb. 12.

Brunswick has out-scored its opponents, 68-59, this season. When the Dragons scored two goals or less this year, they went 0-8-1. When putting up three goals or more — Brunswick was 9-0.

“Our breakouts and our special teams play will be a key, plus we will need to receive a solid game in goal from Riley,” said Bodwell.

On the other side, Cape Elizabeth survived a late-season four-game losing streak, games in which the Capers scored just five combined goals. But, Bodwell feels the way the Capers closed out the season has produced a confident team heading into tonight’s matchup.

“ Cape is feeling good about themselves,” said Bodwell.

Cape Elizabeth scored 52 goals and allowed just 42 behind the goaltending of Grant Rusk.

“ The first goal will be huge,” predicted Bodwell. “ We had our coaches meeting last night, and several coaches said they would love to come to our game because they know it will be two physical teams going at it. It should be a good one.”

In other Class B South quarterfinal action, No. 5 Kennebunk ( 9- 8- 1) heads to No. 4 York ( 11- 7), and No. 7 Gorham (7-11) visits No. 2 Gardiner (13-4-1).

Tuesday’s winners join top- seeded Yarmouth in the Class B South semifinals, which will take place at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston on Friday. Game times will be at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Class A South

On paper, tonight’s Class A South matchup between No. 2 Falmouth ( 14- 4) and No. 7 South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete ( 5- 11- 2) at the Falmouth Family Ice Center at 7: 40 p. m. is a mismatch.

The Yachtmen come in winners of six of their past seven games, including a regular-season closing 4-0 win over top-seeded Scarborough. Falmouth has out- scored its opponents, 78-33, and has lost to only top- tiered teams Cheverus, Scarborough, St. Dom’s and Lewiston this season.

But, the Red Riots will still look to pull the upset despite being out- scored themselves, 58- 45 and playing a much easier schedule in comparison to Falmouth.

The Red Riots had a solid stretch toward the tail end of their regular season, going on a 3- 0- 1 tear before dropping their final two contests.

Elsewhere in Class A South, fourth- seeded Cheverus came from four goals behind to down No. 5 Biddeford on Monday, 6-5 in overtime. The Stags will face the winner of tonight’s Massabesic/ Bonny Eagle/Old Orchard Beach ( 9- 9)- Scarborough ( 13- 2- 3) matchup in the semifinals Saturday at the Colisee.

The other quarterfinal sees No. 3 Thornton Academy (11-6-1) entertaining No. 6 Noble/ Wells ( 9- 9) tonight.