ORONO – Monday night’s hockey game didn’t shape up as a runaway early on, but a slight change in the attack and a return to full strength helped the Brewer Witches break things open in the second period.

Junior center Dylan Fitzpatrick scored two goals and assisted on two others to lead Brewer to a 6-1 win over Orono at Alfond Arena.

After scoring one goal on 11 shots in the first period, the Witches really started brewing some offense in the second period with 29 shots – four of which got past Orono goalie David Eugley.

“I think a lot of it had to do with our second line going back together. They make the biggest difference in the world to this team,” said Brewer coach Bill Schwarz. “When they came back in the second period, it lifted this team’s play way up.”

Brewer second-line center Mike Kotredes and right wing Tyler Coombs missed the first period due to team rule violations but returned to team with left wing Evan Nadeau in the second period. They accounted statistically for just one assist (by Kotredes), but their presence was felt.

“I don’t think we really have a first line. I think they’re pretty equal,” said Schwarz, whose Witches improve to 13-2. “For some reason, when our green [second] line plays well, even if they don’t score, our whole team plays better.”

That became evident 99 seconds into the period as Ryan Nadeau scored on a backward slap of an assist from Fitzpatrick into the left corner of the net. Matt Helfen also assisted on the goal.

Just 90 seconds later, sophomore Nick Risser made it 3-0 on a point-blank shot in front of the left post off an assist from Fitzpatrick, who redirected the rebound off a slap shot from the right side, just inside the blue line, by Prentiss Swett.

The Witches then cashed in on a power play with Swett’s goal off a 15-foot slap shot from the right side with 9:34 left in the period. Fitzpatrick ended the barrage with his second goal, this one off another high slap shot which Eugley got a glove on, but couldn’t hold onto with 2:51 left.

The Red Riots finally scored 28 seconds later as Nick Dimoulas scored on assists by Nick Peterson and Luke Estes.

The final goal came unassisted by Brewer’s Dave McNally with 1:01 left in the final period.

The loss dropped the Riots to 5-11-1, but they didn’t play like a team with that record early on thanks largely to Eugley, who made 44 saves on 50 shots.

“We just tried to have a very passive forecheck and get guys back to limit the odd-man rushes. We wanted to keep it close as long as we could,” said Riots coach Greg Hirsch. “He was close to a 90 save percentage, so that was a really good effort from him.”

Brewer goalie Eric White (17 saves on 18 shots) had one, too. Schwarz credited a great save he made late with 1:21 left in the first for sparking Brewer.

“It was a two-on-one that generated quick down low,” White said. “I could tell he was going to pass it across, so I just got over as quick as I could and the shot went right in my glove.”

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WITCHES 6, RED RIOTS 1

Brewer (13-2) 1 4 1 – 6

Orono (5-11-1) 0 1 0 – 1

First period – 1. Brewer, Fitzpatrick (E. Nadeau), 10:29; penalties: none

Second period – 2. Brewer, R. Nadeau (Fitzpatrick, Helfen) 1:39; 3. Brewer, Risser (Swett, Fitzpatrick) 3:09; 4. Brewer, Swett (Lopez, Helfen) 5:26 (pp); 5. Brewer, Fitzpatrick (Kotredes) 12:09; 6. Orono, Paul (Peterson, Estes) 12:37; penalties: Orono, Evinger, hitting from behind (served by Cherkis) and 10-minute misconduct, 4:07; Brewer, Swett, holding, 5:57; Orono, Cloutier, tripping, 9:12

Third period – 7. Brewer, McNally (unassisted) 13:59; penalties: none

Shots on goal: Brewer 11-29-10-50; Orono 6-5-7-18

Goaltenders: Brewer, White (50 shots-44 saves); Orono, Eugley (18-17)

Power-play opportunities: Brewer 1 of 2; Orono 0 of 1

Attendance: 250 (est.)