Now that’s more like it.

It’s no secret how special the holiday in-season tournaments are, bringing many of the state’s premier teams together for nonleague action that runs just about every day of winter break.

Returning stars stood out. New ones joined them. Games were tight, and the crystal ball got back on track.

After posting a winless record on the girls’ side and a modest mark on the boys’ in the opening week, we turned things around this week with a perfect record for the girls, and a 5-3 showing for the boys. All eight boys’ games were decided by two or less goals, too, and two went to overtime.

Here’s to hoping for more of that:

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 12-3

OVERALL RECORD: 16-11-2 (.586)

*WINNERS in caps*

BOYS

TUESDAY

Marshfield at HINGHAM, 1 p.m. – This will be the program’s third annual meeting since they dedicated this New Year’s Eve matchup to Hockey Fights Cancer. Each of the last two raised over $30k, making this one of the most signature matchups of the year. And hey, the hockey should be excellent, too.

ARLINGTON at Catholic Memorial, 2 p.m. – Both teams are serious Div. 1 state title threats, another classic public versus private bout … etc. This will always be a high-quality nonleague matchup, but Catholic Memorial’s dedication of this one as a ‘Donate Life’ game, fundraising in honor of sophomore manager Jack Aalto, makes it first class.

ST. JOHN’S SHREWSBURY at Shrewsbury, 4:50 p.m. – A battle for bragging rights in Shrewsbury. Colonials have won three straight, surging to the Christie Serino Christmas Classic championship over St. Mary’s and Malden Catholic. St. John’s looks to cool them down.

WEDNESDAY

St. Mary’s at XAVERIAN, 1 p.m. – Hawks have been searching for scoring depth, but don’t expect that to last too long. No better time to get it than against a nonleague title contender.

Reading at ST. JOHN’S PREP, 3:10 p.m. – Coming off games against Hingham, BC High and Pope Francis, the gauntlet continues for the reigning champs against one of the state’s top public-school teams.

Shawsheen Tech at ESSEX TECH, 6:30 p.m. – Div. 3 implications here between two of its most recent powers. Essex Tech has rolled so far, looks to extend to 5-1.

SATURDAY

Belmont at WINCHESTER, noon – The Red and Black are playing well together to kick off the year with some signature wins, including one over highly-ranked Reading. Belmont is another major test with one of the state’s best top lines.

Medway at MEDFIELD, 5:30 p.m. – Medfield just beat the reigning Div. 3 state champs. Medway topped the reigning Div. 4 state champs before that. It’s a TVL affair with some meaningful tournament implications behind it.

GIRLS

WEDNESDAY

Natick at ALGONQUIN, 4 p.m. – RedHawks came out of the gates hot, posting a 4-0-1 mark in their first five games. Algonquin has a real challenge on its hands as is builds up for a hopeful Final Four return in Div. 2.

DUXBURY at Malden Catholic, 4 p.m. – It’s crazy to think the Tenney Cup’s third-place game would come down to teams of this caliber, but that just speaks to the in-season tournament’s difficulty. Both teams look for a response to their first losses of the year in another battle of juggernauts.

Hingham at NDA HINGHAM, 6 p.m. – A Main Street rivalry (sort of) we could very well see match up at TD Garden in March, this time playing for the Tenney Cup championship. Hingham comes off a win over Malden Catholic in a nail-biter semifinal, while the Cougars toppled Duxbury.

THURSDAY

NAUSET at Canton, 5 p.m. – Canton has been a longtime power in Div. 2. Nauset is right there itself over the last couple years. A win here looks good on the resume for either group moving forward.

SATURDAY

Billerica/Chelmsford at METHUEN/TEWKSBURY, 1 p.m. – The Lindians are off to the kind of start head coach Ray Monroe anticipated coming off a bit of a rebuild, winning each of their first five games. The Red Rangers will be their toughest test yet. Expect a classic MVC/DCL Large defensive masterpiece here, regardless of the outcome.

Falmouth at SANDWICH, 6:30 p.m. – We’ll call it the Ferreira Brothers Cup. Falmouth won both for head coach Brian Ferreira last year, but Sandwich’s three games in the Tenney Cup – including a win over Archbishop Williams – could have given Billy Ferreira’s Blue Knights a sharpening that puts them over the top.

HPNA at Shrewsbury, 6:45 p.m. – Shrewsbury head coach Frank Panarelli says his top line can match with anyone and rides a high after winning the Michael Giordano Christmas Classic over Boston Latin. HPNA is also as deep as anyone with one of the state’s top defenses and goalies. Buckle up.

Woburn at READING, 7:45 p.m. – Add the Middlesex League to your watch list in girls hockey if it isn’t already there. A Rockets win here further strengthens their status among opposing coaches as a serious Div. 1 threat.