BREWER – Bangor High School freshman center Nick Payson nearly ruined Brewer High Seniors Night at the T.J. Ryan Center Wednesday night.

But Brewer junior right wing Robbie Hayes’ third-period power-play goal capped a four-goal rally that enabled the Witches to overcome Payson’s first-period hat trick, 4-3.

Brewer finished the regular season at 16-4 while Bangor is 10-8.

Two of Payson’s first-period goals were shorthanded.

Hayes triggered a three-goal second period by scoring on the power play 13 seconds into the period. Wally Tardiff’s power-play goal 2:09 later made it 3-2 and Jeremiah Richter tied it up at the 8:56 mark.

Hayes’ game-winner came on the fourth of five Brewer two-man advantages.

Brewer went 3-for-11 on the power play while Bangor converted one of nine chances, including two, two-man advantages.

Hayes scored with a backhander from a difficult angle to the left of Ram goalie Aaron Buzzell, who turned in a tremendous 31-save performance to keep his Rams in the game.

Brewer outshot Bangor 35-11.

“I was just throwing it in front of the net, hoping for something to happen,” said Hayes.

Buzzell said, “I didn’t think anybody was coming so I figured he was going to try to stuff it. I tried to pokecheck it out and, somehow, it went in. It went five-hole, I guess.”

Hayes had started the comeback by wheeling out of the corner to Buzzell’s right and tucking a 12-foot wrister inside the near post.

Tardiff tipped Josh Kochis’ wrister between Buzzell’s pads off a faceoff and Richter equalized from a Josh Caldwell pass out from behind the net.

“I cut in front of one of their defensemen. He didn’t see me. Josh threw it in front and I deflected it [inside the far post],” said Richter.

The Witches said they knew they could overcome the three-goal deficit.

“We weren’t worried. We dominated the first period and outshot them [15-6] but didn’t get the bounces,” said Richter.

“We scored four goals after the first period the last time we played them [a 5-4 overtime win on Jan. 9]. We felt we could score at least four and hold them to three and that’s what we did,” said Hayes.

But putting the puck behind Buzzell was no small chore.

“He was phenomenal,” said Brewer coach Steve Van Dolman.

The speedy and highly skilled Payson opened the scoring by taking a pass from brother Ben, breaking in on Spencer Dunbar and cleverly maneuvering the puck behind him.

Payson made it 2-0 when his quick shot deflected off Dunbar and a Brewer defenseman and his third goal came about when Ryan Largay kept the puck in the offensive zone and Payson tucked a 10-foot wrister inside the post to Dunbar’s left.

But the Rams took six consecutive penalties leading to Brewer’s first two goals.

Dunbar preserved the win with a good blocker save on Ben Payson’s 20-foot snap shot with six seconds left.

WITCHES 4, RAMS 3

Bangor (10-8) 3 0 0 ? 3

Brewer (16-4) 0 3 1 ? 4

First period ? 1. Ban, N. Payson (B. Payson), 3:39 (sh); 2. Ban, N. Payson (B. Payson, McPike), 5:31 (pp); 3. Ban, N. Payson (R. Largay), 10:35 (sh). Penalties: Ban, Woodcock, holding, 2:46; Brw, Tardiff, hitting from behind and 10-minute misconduct, 5:06; Ban, R. Largay, roughing, 7:07; Ban, George, hooking, 7:58; Ban, Frost, tripping, 9:33; Ban, Mansfield, interference, 14:33.

Second period ? 4. Brw, Hayes (Kochis), :13 (pp); 5. Brw, Tardiff (Kochis), 2:22 (pp); 6. Brw, Je. Richter (Prescott, J. Caldwell), 8:56. Penalties: Ban, R. Largay, cross checking, 2:17; Ban, McPike, interference, 2:54; Brw, Cocklin, roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, 3:24; Brw, Dunbar, slashing (served by Kotredes), 6:18; Brw, Cocklin, high sticking, 13:49.

Third period ? 6. Brw, Hayes (Ja. Richter), 3:39 (pp). Penalties: Ban, Pasquine, holding the stick, 1:20; Brw, J. Caldwell, roughing, 1:20; Ban, B. Payson, tripping, 2:38; Ban, bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, 2:38; Brw, Tardiff, holding, 4:39; Brw, bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, 6:22; Brw, B. Caldwell, boarding, 9:29; Ban, Vanidestine, slashing, 10:25; Ban. B. Payson, elbowing, 11:11; Ban, Vanidestine, interference, 12:35; Brw, J. Caldwell, roughing and 10-minute misconduct.

Shots on goal: Bangor 6-1-4?11; Brewer 15-8-12? 35

Goaltenders: Bangor, Buzzell (35 shots-31 saves); Brewer, Dunbar (11-8)

Power-play opportunities: Bangor 1-9; Brewer 3-11

Attendance: 250 (est.)