If the Bow and Keene High School hockey programs are to meet again this season, it will take place on the biggest stage Division II has to offer: on the ice for the championship at SNHU Arena.

After Bow’s second loss to the undefeated and division-leading Blackbirds this season on Saturday – a 5-3 defeat in Keene – Falcons Coach Tim Walsh is sure hoping his team gets that chance.

“It was good to play this game against them because it measures ourselves up,” Walsh said after the Falcons’ first loss in 15 games. “They’re 14-0 and in first place for a reason. They’re a very good team and I think we are close to that. We have some work to do but if we play them again – and a lot of things have to happen to play again – we know what we have to do if we face them again.”

Bow (14-2-1) and Keene (14-0) are all but locked up for the top two seeds when the tournament kicks off March 1, but gave fans an early preview of what the postseason might have in store. After skating to a 3-0 win over Bow on Dec. 21, the Blackbirds threw the first punch again on Saturday with three first-period goals.

Bow sophomore goalie Nate Carrier let a few past him early on, but picked up his game in the second and third periods to allow the Falcons to get back in it.

“I think some of the goals were ones that Nate would want to have back. We talked about it and he knows that,” Walsh said. “Going forward, he knows what he needs to work on ... we’re not worried about Nate.”

It wasn’t until a power play opportunity opened up in the second period that the Falcons were able to generate their first goal of the showdown on a score from senior defenseman Colin Tracy. That provided the momentum needed for Doug Champagne and Alex Killion, who quickly potted a goal apiece in the third to bring the Falcons within one at 4-3.

Unable to find the equalizer over the last eight minutes, Bow watched on as Keene sealed the win with an empty-netter with 49 seconds to go.

“With one game left, we’re going to be in second place no matter what happens so I think this is kind of where we thought we would be this year,” Walsh said. “We thought it would be us and Keene in some sort of order with Windham right there, too. ... We have to be better and clean up some things, especially heading towards the playoffs where we want to be playing our best hockey in the next two weeks.”