The Pilgrim hockey team knew what had to change.

Two weeks ago, the Patriots were flat in a 2-1 loss to cross-town rival Toll Gate. More than strategies or defensive coverages, that lack of emotion had to be fixed.

In a rematch with the Titans on Saturday, the Pats didn’t waste any time starting the repair job. Nick McGuirl scored a goal 31 seconds into the game and the Pats added two more in the first period on their way to a 3-1 victory.

“We played with more emotion tonight,” said Pilgrim head coach Dave Tober. “I think, collectively, we were a little embarrassed that we didn’t bring or sustain any effort the last time we played them. I think we worked harder tonight, especially in the first period.”

That made an enormous difference.

The Titans, who lost an overtime heartbreaker to Narragansett the night before, found themselves down two goals less than three minutes into the game. Though they steadied themselves enough to play solid hockey from there, they never got out of the hole.

“The first period was our downfall tonight – giving up a couple of bad goals,” said Toll Gate head coach Bill Russo. “We never really recovered from that. I was happy with the way we played in the second, and I was happy with the way we played in the third. It was a good game for two periods. The first period was the difference-maker.”

Last weekend, Pilgrim’s skid that started with the loss to Toll Gate continued with losses to Barrington and East Greenwich. Intensity was a concern in those games, too, but if the Pats needed motivation to change, they got it in the form of Saturday’s rematch.

“That loss, we were so mad about it,” McGuirl said. “We wanted to win this game so bad.”

The Pats played like it.

In the first minute, McGuirl carried the puck into the zone on the right wing and fired a shot into the net for the 1-0 lead. Cody Weaver assisted. Two minutes later, Alex Nadiger scored on an almost identical play, with assists from Weaver and Corey Casale.

“We came out flying,” McGuirl said.

In their most recent game, a 4-2 loss to East Greenwich last Saturday, the Pats had given up a goal in the first minute of every period. Against Toll Gate, they enjoyed turning the tables.

“You’re able to set the tone when you do that,” Tober said. “With Nick scoring so quick tonight, I think we set the tone not only to our opponent, but to ourselves. I think it fired us up, and we need that.”

With 4:53 left in the first period, the Pats added to their lead. After a shot hit the post, the puck bounced to Evan Joyal, who punched it in for the 3-0 lead. Nadiger and Dylan Legarie picked up assists. For the period, the Pats out-shot Toll Gate 13-1.

In the earlier meeting, the Titans came from behind for the win. They started down the comeback trail again on Saturday when Nick Nardone took a pass from Dylan Russo and scored late in the second period to make it 3-1.

The Titans had some late chances to get closer, but Pilgrim goalie Ian Giuttari helped keep them off the board.

“It was a very similar game in a lot of ways – a tight game and we were down in the third period,” Bill Russo said. “Last time, we came back to beat them. We just couldn’t punch it in this time.”

On the other side, the Pats were happy to survive, but Tober would like to see the first-period effort last a full game.

“I think we got a little fat and happy, thinking we could sit on that,” Tober said. “Luckily, we were able to let three goals stand, but we need to take that type of effort from the first period and play the whole game that way. That’s what we’re working on. We need to sustain it for 45 minutes.”

The win moved Pilgrim to 3-7-1, good for fifth place in Division I-A. Thanks to Saturday’s performance, the Pats may have a newfound appreciation for intensity and emotion, two crucial ingredients for stretch-run success.

“Emotion is everything with this team,” Tober said. “When you’re playing Toll Gate, it’s a little different, but one of the things I’m always preaching with this group is that it doesn’t matter what jersey the other team is wearing. It’s about how Pilgrim plays. If we can get to that rather than worrying about playing up to our opponent or playing down, we’ll be much better off. We’re still working to get to that point. But tonight, for the most part, was a step in the right direction.”

With the losses to Pilgrim and Narragansett, Toll Gate dropped to 1-10. But with seven games remaining, the Titans aren’t out of the playoff picture.

“I’m disappointed in the weekend, but looking ahead to the final month, we’re still battling for that last playoff spot,” Russo said. “Our goal is to get in, because anything can happen once you do that. We have to get ourselves into position first.”

Toll Gate has another doubleheader scheduled this weekend, with a 9:30 p.m. game on Friday at Thayer Arena against East Greenwich and a Saturday match-up with Lincoln in Woonsocket. Pilgrim will return to Thayer on Saturday at 7 p.m. to take on East Greenwich.