Home ice is nice, but Goffstown head coach Peter Bedford is more focused on the hot product skating on the cold surface.

“I don’t care where it is, it could be in the pond out back … To me it’s an opportunity,” he said.

Going into the final game of the season, the Grizzlies knew their first-round opponent, but were uncertain of the venue.

By defeating Winnacunnet 3-0 on Senior Night, Saturday, Feb. 23, and finishing the season on a three-game winning streak, including back-to-back shutouts, they did their part.

Then they sat back and waited for the result of Bow’s contest at Spaulding the next day, knowing if the Falcons won, it meant a return to Everett Arena in Concord for a rematch of a 6-5 GHS victory on Jan. 5.

Bow lost, 3-2.

So Goffstown hosts its second playoff game in school history.

But Bedford cautioned his team committed far too many penalties in its regular-season finale.

While refusing to point any fingers – at either the players or the refs – he noted the importance of keeping five players on the ice to win in the postseason.

“We certainly did penalty kill awesome, though,” he said with a grin. “I mean, we were getting opportunities on the penalty kill. They just couldn’t figure us out.”

After a scoreless first period, senior defenseman Nick Chagnon put the Grizzlies on the board 9:38 into the second period on an assist from sophomore Drew Simoneau.

Then, Nate Chaput lit the lamp as time expired in the middle frame thanks to sleek passes from Chagnon and Matt Gifford. Junior Ryan Valcourt capped the scoring in the third.

Senior netminder Steve Case played the first 25 minutes, then skated off the ice so classmate Scott Turgeon could absorb some Senior Night glory as well.

He did, and completed the Grizzlies sixth shotout of the season, a school record.

“These guys have been with us for four years. They’ve been outstanding goaltenders as well as individuals, and what a way to finish,” said Bedford, who added that either keeper could start for nearly any team in the state.

“We’ve got the goaltending, our forwards have been aggressive, but not overly aggressive.

They’re doing a great job of keeping everything in front of them , and we’ve got the defensive style, I think, to win any of these games,” said Bedford. “We get past Bow and get a little deeper into the bracket … you never know.”