Three years of frustration could finally come to an end for the Bangor High School hockey team tonight.

In the last three seasons, Bangor and Lewiston have met either in the Eastern Maine Class A semifinals or in the finals.

Lewiston has won all three, two in overtime and another by a goal in regulation.

The third-seeded Rams, 14-7-1, and the fourth-seeded Blue Devils, 12-9-1, will play for the Eastern A title tonight at 6 at Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center.

In the Western A final, which will follow the Bangor-Lewiston game, No. 5 Scarborough, 16-6, will take on No. 2 Biddeford (19-3).

The Class A state game will be played at The Colisee in Lewiston on Saturday at 6.

Bangor will be looking for its first berth in a state hockey final in its 24-year history.

Its only previous appearance in an EM final was two years ago. Lewiston won 3-2.

Lewiston eliminated Bangor in the semifinals in 2004 (4-3 in overtime) and last year (2-1 in overtime).

“We all want revenge. I think all of us will play with pretty good intensity,” said Bangor senior center Matt Boehmer.

“It would be a great thing if we could knock them out once,” said senior defenseman Joel Whitney.

Lewiston won the only regular season game between the two this season, 3-1 on Jan. 30.

Bangor senior defenseman Jake Silver said Bangor had beaten Lewiston at least once during the regular season during the previous three seasons so the fact they didn’t do so this year could help their mindset.

“Instead of coming into the game cocky and thinking we’re going to run all over them, we know we’re going to have to work for it and we’re going to,” said Silver.

Lewiston coach Norm Gagne said the teams are “alike in a lot of ways.

“We have good goaltending and we stress defensive hockey. And both teams capitalize on the other team’s mistakes,” said Gagne. “Both teams will forecheck hard to try to create scoring opportunities.”

The two teams have allowed just one goal, between them, in four playoff games.

Bangor blanked Messalonskee 1-0 and top seed Waterville 4-0 while Lewiston ousted Edward Little of Auburn 3-0 and No. 2 seed Brunswick 2-1.

Both are playing their best hockey.

Bangor has won six straight while Lewiston is 9-1-1 in its last 11.

“We’re playing with our greatest intensity of the season. We’re peaking at the right time,” said Boehmer.

“No matter what they do during the regular season, Lewiston always comes ready to play in the playoffs. We have to come ready to play, too,” said Silver.

“My teams have always had the reputation of playing well in the playoffs,” said Gagne, who has won six state titles, three at Gardiner and three at Waterville.

Boehmer is Bangor’s leading scorer with 17 goals and 13 assists; Christian Dionne has 14 & 16 and Johnny Warren has 10 & 7. Dionne has goals in each playoff game.

Silver and Whitney have anchored the defense in front of goalie Andrew Riley (39 saves in two playoff wins).

Lewiston features the high-powered line of Jordan Bourgoin between J.R. Roy and Casey Poussard. They have combined for more than 40 goals.

They also have two other productive lines. Devin McLellan, Jake Brown and Tim Gilbert have been stout on defense and Dylan Labonte has been rock solid in goal.