DANBURY - Newtown High School's hockey team heads into the postseason feeling good about the potential for success. The Nighthawks, heading into the South-West/ Southern Connecticut Conference Division III playoffs, are coming off a 2-2 tie with D-II foe North Haven, at Danbury Ice Arena, on February 25.

With the tie, the Nighthawks end the regular season with a record of 12-7-1; North Haven is 4-14-1.

The Hawks overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third period to force overtime, and both teams had chances in the eight minutes of extra time. Despite not getting the win, Newtown Coach Paul Esposito was pleased with what he saw from his lineup.

"We knew coming into this game it was going to be a tough one so we'll take the tie," Esposito said.

Newtown got on the board 2:47 into the third period as Scott McLean took a pass from David Brestovansky, beat the left side defender and deked the goaltender, cutting to the far side to tuck the puck into the net. Domenic Cartelli had the secondary assist.

The Hawks evened the score with 9:05 left in regulation when Cole Bepko circled in front from behind the goal line and whipped home a shot that deflected in. Sean Ferris, who recently returned to the lineup, had the assist on the power play tally.

Both teams drew penalties in the late stages of the third, and Newtown had some golden opportunities to win in OT.

Devin Marsh hit the corner of the crossbar with a shot and, later on his shift, drew a North Haven tripping call with 1:10 left. The Hawks set up some chances on the ensuing man advantage but couldn't capitalize.

Nighthawk goaltender Kyle Murphy made 34 saves.

Esposito liked how his team played throughout the afternoon, and has been impressed with his team on the whole, down the stretch.

"That's the way you want to be for the playoffs. If we play like I like our chances. We're doing all the small things," the coach said.

The Hawks are striving to win both conference and state championships this winter.

"We have the talent and the bodies that can take us to the top," Esposito believes.

Newtown might, however, be short bodies - and talent - for the conference tourney opener, when the Hawks take on Masuk of Monroe in the semifinals.

That's because things got a little out of control at the end of overtime in the North Haven game. Some pushing and shoving after the whistle carried over from late in the game and there was a lot of more of it just after the final horn. Some punches were thrown and officials broke up groups of players only to have others get into some rough stuff.

Esposito said that the incident was a product of things escalating due to chippy play not being handled during the game, and added that the Nighthawks weren't fans of the fact some of the North Haven players left its bench to get involved in the fracas.

Esposito, following the game, was awaiting word from officials on suspensions.

When Newtown tangles with Masuk in the playoff opener at Milford Ice Pavilion (Wednesday, March 1, at 6 or 8 pm) it will be the third meeting of the season; the teams split a pair of regular season battles. The winner advances to the March 3 championship game, which is set to take place at West Haven's Bennett Rink, starting at 8 pm.

Both Newtown and Masuk are headed to the D-III state playoffs regardless of the conference tourney outcome.