The second year of the state Division 3A hockey tournament comes down to the same teams as the first year.

Defending champion Holyoke (21-1-1) squares off against Oakmont of Ashburnham (20-1-2) at the MassMutual Center in Springfield at 6 tonight.

"I don't know who's got more pressure on them," Purple Knights coach John Houle said. "Us because we are the defending champs or them because they lost last year."

The Spartans used last year's 4-2 defeat as fuel for this season. The squad, which returned all but two players, lost at Lunenberg 7-3 on Jan. 18. The team has since gone 9-0-2, including its 2-1 win over Fitchburg in Monday's central Massachusetts championship.

"We did an outstanding job from our forwards on back," first-year Oakmont coach Ryan Carney told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette after Monday's game. "The kids did a great job staying with the game plan we drew up."

Playing Holyoke "is what we want, and we couldn't be happier to have them again," he added. "We're going out there to show them that central Mass. is going to be well represented, and we're coming home with the title this year. We want it, and we're ready."

Houle, whose team defeated Agawam 3-2 for the western Massachusetts title on Sunday, attended Monday's game.

"It's the same team as last year," Houle said of Oakmont. "It's a big team. They don't have as much speed as we have, but they are a very talented team. Hopefully, we're going to keep our mistakes to a minimum. It's going to come down to who makes the fewer mistakes."

Both teams enjoyed dominating regular seasons and earned the top seed in their sectional tournaments.

Oakmont has outscored its opponents 131-38 this year, while Holyoke has enjoyed a 129-48 advantage.

While the Spartans have played with a chip on their shoulder after last year's loss, the Purple Knights have remained just as determined after hoisting the trophy.

"It's just them staying focused on one game at a time. We had a few games we didn't play our best and ended up winning," Houle said. "It just shows our depth because you don't play anywhere near your capability and still pull of a win.

"They are just as hungry now as they were last year," he added. "The way they are looking at it, this is the last game. Everything is on the table now. This is what they've played all year for."

Holyoke has won 15 straight games heading into the tournament and gone 31-1-2 over its past 34 games during the last two seasons.

Still, once it clinched a postseason berth in the 12th game of the season, Houle did some tinkering with his lines.

"Once we were in (the postseason), it was just about preparing for the tournament," Houle said. "That gave me eight games to play with the lines and they've been excellent."

Senior Derek Pinciak (12 goals, 22 assists), who scored a hat trick in last year's title game, is joined on the first line by sophomore Chris Menard (20, 22) and junior Brian Rokowski (10, 22).

On the second line, junior Luke Dilisio (14, 17) is playing with seniors Cody Miller (16, 16) and Jake Bailly (five, 11). Junior Ben Menard (nine, five), senior Nate Standen (six, four) and sophomore Joey Harris (seven, three) make up a terrific third line.

"It's really nice to have that kind of depth," Houle said. "If a team shuts down one line, the other guys pick it up and a lot of different guys have scored big goals for us."

Seniors Mike Bakos, Jesse Cummings and Sean O'Donnell, junior Kevin Stefanik and sophomore Spencer Nawrocki anchor a terrific defense that has held the opponent to one or no goals in 10 games this season.

"They've been stellar, especially in the (4-0 win) against Amherst" in the semifinals, Houle said. "They are going to have to play a complete game. I don't have too many one-way players. I think that contributed to our success this season."

Senior goaltender Tadd Goff, who had numerous key saves in the closing minutes of last year's championship win, allowed more than two goals just once this season.

"He's gotten better and better" over his career, Houle said. "He gives the team a lot of confidence. When you are confident in your goalie, you aren't worried about making that one mistake.

"He's been unbelievable for us and he plays his best in big games. This is one last big game."

Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.