DANBURY — Close games have been the norm for Newtown High School’s hockey team this winter and a contest with the Brookfield-Bethel-Danbury (BBD) co-op at Danbury Ice Arena on January 31 was no exception. Newtown fended off the IceCats despite a flurry of chances in the third period, skating to a 3-2 victory.

It was the sixth game of 13 decided by just one goal; three others were two-goal decisions. Newtown bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Masuk of Monroe at The Rinks at Shelton two nights earlier and improved to 3-10 overall.

James Celentano, Tyler DiMartino, and Jack Stanton each had goals. It was DiMartino’s first varsity net-finder. Jack O’Connell, Celentano, and Phil Makris recorded assists. Goaltender Markus Paltauf made 35 saves.

Newtown led 3-1 after two periods of play and surrendered a goal less than a half-minute into the third period. BBD continued to apply pressure, but the Nighthawk defense and netminder were up to the task.

“We’ve played a lot of close games, so this one feels really good,” Newtown Coach Paul Esposito said.

The Nighthawks are 2-3 in the South-West Conference/Southern Connecticut Conference Division III standings and are in the mix of teams looking to qualify for the postseason; the top four get in.

“These are conference points for us,” said Esposito, whose team and BBD both left the rink with the same mark, have the same number of points — four — as a total of four teams, and just two points behind second-place New Milford.

Esposito liked the way his team played. “Everybody contributed,” he added. Blocking shots and solid backchecking were key in this win. Eli Kirby, Stanton, and DiMartino had especially strong games, the coach said, with DiMartino’s score coming at a crucial time, on the power play, breaking a 1-1 tie early in the second period.

NHS blanked the Housatonic co-op 2-0 on the road on February 4. Paltauf earned his first career high school shutout with 32 saves. Makris had the game-winning goal and an assist, and Celentano had a goal and assist. A very strong penalty kill and solid defense led Newtown to the victory.