An early third-period goal could have been the start of a rally for the Philadelphia Rebels, but the Maine Nordiques shut the Rebels down the rest of the way for a 3-1 win in an NAHL East Division contest in Sewall, New Jersey, on Saturday.

First-period goals by Nicholas Bernardo and Aidan Coupe gave the Nordiques (61 points) a 2-0 lead that held through the first two periods.

Max Hamstad quickly cut the deficit in half for the Rebels (48 points) just 62 seconds into the third period. Jared Kaplowitz provided the assist on the goal.

The Nordiques had to sweat out that one-goal lead until the final minute of the game, when Kellen Murphy scored an empty-net goal. Coupe and David Helledy notched assists.

It was a three-point game for Coupe, who had the secondary assist on Bernardo’s opening goal six minutes in. Oliver Genest dished out the primary assist. Coupe’s goal, Bernardo and Brendan Gibbons, came on the power play with 2:52 left in the first period.

The Nordiques were 1 for 4 on the man-advantage, and the Rebels went 0 for 3.

Kael DePape turned away 34 of 35 shots to earn the win in net for Maine, with 14 of those saves coming in the first period and 10 each in the final two frames. Jakub Krbecek made 24 saves for Philadelphia.

The Nordiques’ late-season road swing continues next weekend with a pair of games against the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks next Friday and Saturday, before they return home to play eight of their final nine games of the regular season at The Colisee.