The Maine Nordiques played well, but it wasn’t enough to win.

The Jamestown Rebels defeated the Nordiques 3-2 in overtime at Northwest Arena in Jamestown, New York in an NAHL East Division game.

“If we didn’t spot them two (goals) early in the game, I would take a 1-0 win,” Maine Nordiques coach Matt Pinchevsky said. “We could have driven the momentum of outplaying them in the second and third periods and overtime — if I am being honest — to a win. I don’t want to call it a slow start, but mentally we didn’t make the best choices in the first 10 (minutes of the game). We are a hockey team that does well in the first 10 minutes.”

The Rebels (19-15-3, 41 points) jumped out to an early lead in the first period. Ethan Janda scored in the opening minute of the game.

Reid Lune stretched Jamestown’s lead to 2-0 with seven minutes remaining in the first period.

Brendan Gibbons put the Nordiques (10-21-4, 24 points) on the board with four seconds remaining in the opening period to cut the deficit to 2-1. It was his fourth goal of the season. Patrick Schmeidlin and Filip Wiberg had the assists.

“We went into the first intermission excited to get back out there to get back to work,” Pinchevsky said. “We just built off that momentum the whole second period. (The crowd) was dead quiet, the only time they oohed and aahed was when their goalie (Nolan Suggs) made a save.”

Suggs stopped 45 shots in the win.

After neither team scored in the second period, Aidan Connolly forced overtime with nine seconds left in the third period with his ninth goal of the season. Theo Thrun and Gibbons had the assists.

“Our guys did battle, they did respond, they executed the 6-on-5 situation the way we wanted it,” Pinchevsky said. “We are taking a step in the right direction and earning a point. This is the team we are trying to catch. We have to earn two more (points) tomorrow and that will be a winning weekend.”

The game was about to go into a shootout, but Jak Vaarwerk scored with eight seconds left in the overtime session to give Jamestown a 3-2 win.

Avery Sturtz made 27 saves in the loss.

Maine will look for the split Saturday as the teams meet again in Jamestown at 7 p.m.

NORDIQUES PLAYERS NAMED TO TOP PROSPECTS TOURNAMENT

The North American Hockey League announced Friday the NAHL Selects Team for the Top Prospect Tournament Feb 7-8 at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

Nordiques forward Zion Green — who has seven goals and nine assists in 32 games — will represent Maine on the Selects Team roster.

“I think he knew if they were going to have a Selects Team, which is chosen by (NHL) Central Scouting — he’s NHL draft-eligible — he’s a pretty confident young man and knows his abilities,” Pinchevsky said. “We are happy he will have a chance to showcase against kids in his age group and older guys. Who knows, maybe turn the heads of a few NHL teams.”

The Selects Team was named after the United States National Team Development Program Under-17 was added to the tournament on Friday. Previously, there were four teams, one for each division (Central, East Midwest, South).

Last week, forward Tristan Fasig and defenseman Matt Connor were announced for the East Division roster.

Fasig has seven goals and 14 assists in 34 games.

“Tristan is respected by every person in this league and this division,” Pinchevsky said. “It’s going to be the reason he commits Division I, just because he’s so trustworthy on the ice and great (at faceoffs). He’s a leader and well-liked in the locker room. He puts an honest 200-foot effort every time.”

Connor has four goals and eight assists in 35 games.

“Matty Connor was a staple on our (East) Division championship team last year, this year he logs more minutes than about every other (defenseman) in our division,” Pinchevsky said. “He never asks foy any pats on the back or anything like that; he just goes to work and all he wants to do is win. As a right-shot defenseman with a ton of tools and a ton of experience, it will be a very big event for him as well.”

PELLERIN COMMITS TO UNE

Maine Nordiques defenseman Jacob Pellerin will play his college hockey in the state as he has committed to the University of New England.

The first-year defenseman has four assists in 32 games.

“(Coach Kevin Swallow) sees a lot of our games and knows how we go about our business,” Pinchevsky said. “He knows he’s getting a high-character player and will help their (defensive) core) tremendously in a lot of different situations. He’s a student of the game. We are very proud of him.”

Pellerin is the son of former University of Maine standout and Hobey Baker Award winner Scott Pellerin.