Alvirne-Milford goalie Kian Corcoran looks for the puck that is actually against the right skate of teammate Dylan MacLeod, right, off a shot by Nashua's Jared Gauthier (21) during Saturday's inter-divisonal regular season finale at Conway Arena. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Saturday was a tale of two high school boys hockey teams that were not only in different divisions but in different worlds at Conway Arena.

The Nashua North-South Knights were finishing up their first regular season as an entity, limping to the finish line due to injuries, etc.

The Alvirne-Milford Admirals, however, were looking to get the extra points with a win over a Division I opponent and wrestle the Division II top spot away from defending champion St. Thomas of Dover via point rating.

Mission accomplished — unofficially — for the 14-4 visitors, in the form of a 3-0 victory.

“We knew the top seed was at stake,” Admirals coach Kathy Griswold said. “We knew we had home ice advantage (in the quarterfinals) but we wanted that top seed.”

For the host Knights (4-14), they were without some key skaters, including their best offensive threat, senior forward Brendon Doughty, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago and missed the rest of the season.

“We went out today the way we came in,” Knights co-coach Chris Zarlenga said. “With fight, with fire, with effort. In the last month we battled personnel after personnel problem. I really think the program just needs the same (max effort), and we’re just going to keep going, right?”

The difference in the game were two special teams first-period goals by the Admirals, one shorthanded tally at 6:20 by Brandon Callahan (goal, two assists) and a power play goal by Brandon Ganas, assisted by Callahan, at 10:35. Callahan later assisted on Luke Green’s goal at 2:19 of the third period as the clincher.

It was the fourth shutout of the season for Admirals netminder Kian Corcoran (30 saves), who has the program record of six – and that’s after not playing with the team last year.

“We have an amazing goaltender,” Griswold said.

Nashua was handed the advantage of a five-minute power play thanks to a major boarding call against the Admirals, but could only manage three shots on Corcoran.

“You have a senior captain who has over 30 points or close to it,” Zarlenga said. “You lose him for a fifth of the season, it’s very, very difficult. But it’s a huge testament to the guys who stepped up. Tonight and Wednesday (vs. St. Thomas) were the only times we got shut out all year….

“Today we were down four of our top nine, and it’s really hard.You don’t get a lot of power play time with those top four are out in practice, You don’t prepare to be down four of your nine.”

“We work a lot on our special teams,” Griswold said. “That was one thing when I took over the team, I was a little unclear on how special teams were organized so that was my first task. … They’ve certainly stepped it up.”

Knights goalie Tony Venezia had a solid 17 saves. Meanwhile, there was likely a cost for the Admirals in this one, as Ganas was hit with a game misconduct penalty/ejection after a hit into the boards on Nashua’s Jack Russin-Morgan.

That would carry a one-game suspension and cause Ganas to miss the quarterfinals – likely against No. 8 Somersworth Coe-Brown next Saturday at Skate 3.

Griswold said at first the Admirals and likely school officials would determine whether to appeal, etc. However, she found out Sunday there would be no review in the case of a disqualification, and Ganas will have to miss Saturday.

“But, as my job as a coach, my staff and I have worked very hard to develop multiple scoring combinations and progress every player on our roster,” she said. “We will move forward.”

And that’s one of the reasons why the Admirals have taken Division II by storm. Did Griswold expect this kind of season?

“Yes, I saw a lot of potential, I saw a lot of things I needed to clean up,”Griswold said. “The key to going forward is just focus.”

While there were cheers from the A-M locker room, there were hugs on the ice among the Nashua players, and that program will go forward as well, but just with way more time before its next game.

“Overall, it’s just a huge testament to the guys and the coaches who put in a lot of time and couldn’t be more proud to be part of the program,” Zarlenga said.

BISHOP GUERTIN 4, EXETER 2

The visiting Cards secured the No. 3 seed and quarterfinal home ice in the Division I tourney, finishing 13-5. Cam Vaillancourt scored two third period goals for the difference, while Dom Trepanier had a goal and an assist and Gavin Santos also scored.

Other assists went to Jack Stone (two), Luca Ferrari and Jordan O’Hearn.

BG now waits to find out officially who it play next Saturday in the quarters at Skate 3.