Generating scoring opportunities wasn’t an issue for the Greenwich boys hockey team during its game against FCIAC foe Ridgefield on Saturday.

However, registering goals was an issue for the Cardinals, who came close to tallying numerous times during their matchup against the Tigers, but were held off the scoreboard.

Senior Matthew Silliman was outstanding in goal for Ridgefield, recording 32 saves and senior Will Stewart scored twice to power the Tigers to a 2-0 win over the Cardinals at Winter Garden Ice Arena in Ridgefield. Junior goalie Charlie Zolin stopped 18 shots for Greenwich (1-2). Ridgefield, which scored a goal apiece in the second and third period, improved its record to 2-3 with the victory.

“We had a lot of good shots on net, but we ran into a hot goaltender,” Greenwich coach Jack Duffy said. “Ridgefield was strong on defense and they blocked a lot of shots.”

The first period saw both goalies make impressive saves to keep the game scoreless.

“After the first period we talked about how defensively, we had to play tougher in the neutral zone,” Duffy said. “Charlie faced some tough shots. He kept it a scoreless tie after one period.”

The Tigers began the second period on a power play, but the Cardinals’ penalty kill kept it a scoreless game. Then shortly after Ridgefield’s power play ended the home team tallied. Stewart, a forward, scored off a one-timer from close in, giving Ridgefield a 1-0 edge. Greenwich attempted to counter, but could not score the equalizer. On a power play with just under 10 minutes remaining in the second period, the Cardinals peppered shots toward Silliman, who stood tall in goal.

Senior Jack Hutchins, sophomore Peter Lewis, junior Wesley Zolin and senior John Cataldo each tested Silliman with shots in the second period, but Ridgefield held the Cardinals off the scoreboard. Junior Christopher Hamilton led a group of Ridgefield defensemen who blocked several shots, especially during the third period, which saw the Cardinals possess the puck in the Tigers’ zone.

“We forechecked very well and put a lot of pressure on their defensemen,” Duffy said. “It  was definitely frustrating, we hit a couple of posts and we didn’t get a some shots on net, because they blocked some. They were paying the price in front of the net and getting in front of the shooting lanes.”

The game’s second goal came with 4:30 left in the third period, courtesy of Stewart. Junior forward James Ahern slid the puck from behind to Stewart, who quickly snapped a shot from between the circles, by Zolin, making it 2-0. The Cards also had plenty of scoring chances in the third period, but couldn’t solve Silliman, who began the period by making a save off a 2-on-1.

Greenwich (1-2) plays New Canaan Wednesday at Dorothy Hamill Skating Rink at 5 p.m. Ridgefield is in action Wednesday, against visiting Darien.

“New Canaan is a good team and we both have pretty good depth,” Duffy said. “We have to put together the positives that we saw the past couple of games – putting the forecheck and scoring together. On the defensive end, we are playing well.”