Special teams matter more than ever come the postseason. Special-team situations worked to North Penn’s advantage Thursday night. The Knights overcame an early 1-0 deficit and scored twice on second-period power plays to separate themselves from Downingtown West en route to a 4-1 win in a Flyers Cup Class AA a semifinal at Hatfield Ice.

The top-seeded Knights (25-1) will attempt to complete a successful title defense Tuesday night against Boyertown, a 4-3 winner over Council Rock South in Thursday’s other semifinal.

From North Penn’s perspective, it was a performance that was more workmanlike than flamboyant.

“{Downingtown West} is a very good hockey team,” said North Penn coach Kevin Vaitis. “Their goalie (Justin Adams) is outstanding. We knew going in that it was going to be a tough game and it was.

“They got goal early, but we kept playing and kept working.”

The fifth-seeded Whippets (13-9-1) drew first blood when Brady Cusa opened the scoring 5:35 into the opening period. Joey Risa took a shot from the left wing. North Penn goaltender Andrew Norton made the save but lost track of the rebound and Cusa tucked the puck inside the left post.

Nolan Shingle responded for North Penn at the 9:52 mark however to send the teams into the second period on even terms.

The Whippets undermined themselves with penalties in the second frame. Colin Gordon was whistled for interference just 19 seconds into the period. It took Chris Silvotti just 44 additional seconds to respond with a power-play goal. Shingle’s second goal of the night, which came with 5:26 remaining in the period, was also a power-plays effort. James Boyle assisted on the goal to pick up the 100th point of his career.

“We always try to work on the power play,” Shingle said. “When you’re given a chance like that, you kind of have to capitalize, it can be a big momentum swinger.

“This whole season, we kind of have been on the other side of calls a lot, so I feel like every power play we get, we’ve got to make the most of it.”

Declan Leahy added the Knights’ fourth goal, with Boyle’s help, 4:56 into the third period.

 Now, it’s on to the finals where the Knights will try to become the first Class AA team in seven years to defend a Cup title. Shingle says the Knights are taking it a step at a time.

“That’s been a big thing this whole season,” Shingle said. “Don’t get too ahead of ourselves and just keep focused. “We’ve got to go into every game with the mentality that this team can beat us if we don’t come to play.”                                                                                                     

• Downingtown East in 2019 was the last Class AA team to mount a successful Flyers Cup defense. The Cougars won three straight titles from 2017-’19.

Downingtown West 1 0 0—1

North Penn 1 2 1—4

First-period goals: Brady Cusa (DW) from Joey Risa, 5:35; Nolan Shingle (NP) from Samuel Norton, 9:52

Second-period goals: Chris Silvotti (NP) from Ismael Cabrales, 1:03 (pp) Shingle (NP) from Norton and James Boyle, 11:34 (pp)

Third-period goals: Declan Leahy (NP) from Boyle, 4:56

Shots: Downingtown West 14, North Penn 40; Saves: Justin Adams (DW) 36, Andrew Norton (NP) 13