Holy Family Catholic had two five-minute majors and handed Stillwater five other power plays that the Ponies used to stomp out the Fire on Saturday.

Stillwater, ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, avenged its only loss of the season with the 3-2 victory over Holy Family Catholic before a standing-room-only crowd at the St. Croix Valley Rec Center.

Three different Ponies (23-1-1) scored in the victory, as Jesse Bjugstad, Jackson Cates and Matthew Stanton all converted for power-play goals in the decisive second period. Senior goaltender Josh Benson stopped 27 of 29 shots, as Stillwater rolls into the section playoffs.

“This is definitely a confidence booster, but we are already prepared to forget about it,” Benson said. “Now we focus on the playoffs where everyone is 0-0.”

The No. 4-2A Fire (16-5-0) had the momentum through most of the first period and staked an early lead when Tyler Rock scored 12 minutes, 20 seconds into the game.

But the second period was a different story, as the hard-hitting Holy Family Catholic team went to the penalty box four times on its way to 16 minutes total for the night. A motivated Stillwater team took the opportunity and ran with it.

Bjugstad scored early on in the second period to level it, then Cates and Stanton struck late to give the Ponies the lead for good.

“We knew we had to pick it up, and we did,” Benson said. “After those two late goals, we took charge and kept the pace going the rest of the way.”

Stillwater’s aggressive forecheck started working more effectively, as the Ponies established their desired way to operate below the hash marks in the offensive zone.  Stillwater's 5-on-5 play helped stem the tide, but the special teams turned it for good.

“The 5-on-3s helped," Ponies coach Matt Doman said with a grin.

The Fire came out hitting and kept at it through the penalty trouble, but the Ponies were expecting things to get rough after the first meeting with Holy Family Catholic on Dec. 28. This round, Stillwater was more prepared and committed to playing the body.

“The first time we played, they beat us up pretty good and we didn’t have an answer for it,” Doman says. “That’s not necessarily our strength, but we were ready for it. Instead of just being the recipient of it, we knew we had to give it too.

“But when you get to playoff hockey, it becomes part of the game,” Doman added. “We did an OK job controlling that, but we talked about the need to finish checks and expecting to get hit. That’s the kind of game it is going to be from here on out, regardless of who we play. It’s going to be physical.”

The Fire worked well with their offense, featuring Mr. Hockey finalist Will Garin, who had to work without linemate Ethan Mesler after Mesler drew a major penalty midway through the second period. Garin finished with five of Holy Family Catholic's 29 shots, though Benson kept a lid on the talented UConn commit.

Doman praised his team’s effort in defeating the Fire in this second go-round, but now turns his focus on the “second” season, as the second-ranked team looks to make its second trip to St. Paul.

“We’ve beaten every team we’ve played this year, that’s good,” Doman said. “But right now, we’re 0-0 and worried about getting better in practice Monday.”

Stillwater survived a fiery regular season finale Saturday night as the Ponies topped Holy Family Catholic 3-2 before a full house at the St. Croix Valley Rec Center.

Ranked No. 2 in Class 2A by Let's Play Hockey, Stillwater (23-1-1) scored all three of its goals on the power play. Jesse Bjugstad, Jackson Cates and Matthew Stanton all finished with goals for the Ponies.

The No. 4-2A Fire (19-5-0) struck first when Tyler Rock scored at 12 minutes, 20 seconds in the opening period.

But the second would belong to the Stillwater, as the Ponies unloaded with three power-play goals to take the lead for good.

​Stillwater avenged its lone loss of the season, suffered in late December when Holy Family Catholic prevailed 5-3 at the Sports Authority Holiday Hockey Classic in St. Louis Park.

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