CHESTNUT HILL — A year after losing in the Div. 2 state final, Canton’s chance at redemption is on.

Despite trailing twice in the first two periods of its state semifinal at Boston College’s Conte Forum on Sunday afternoon, the top-seeded Bulldogs (23-1) kept their composure to battle back both times en route to a 6-2 win over No. 4 Burlington to return to TD Garden.

Senior co-captain Andrew Gillis scored the first of his two goals to tie up the game in the second period before sophomore Brayden Dickie closed out the frame with game-winner.

Canton’s three goals, with two empty-netters, in the last three minutes sealed their sixth Div. 2 state final berth in the last seven state tournaments. It’ll play No. 2 Tewksbury in a rematch of the 2022 state final on Sunday.

“It just means the most,” Gillis said. “When you’re in middle school, you’re in elementary school, you’re going to the Garden as a little kid. Now we’re there again. It’s just surreal. We’re a dynasty. It just means the world. I’m speechless. It’s crazy.”

Composure was tested early on for a group that isn’t used to trailing, as the Red Devils grabbed a 1-0 lead less than five minutes in on James Gordon’s 2-on-1 goal off a feed from Matthew Ulmschneider. Senior 100-point scorer Joey Ryan (goal, assist) evened up the score for Canton soon after to head into the break at 1-1, but Burlington again struck early in the second with Nick Tulipano’s tally to regain the 2-1 advantage.

“The bench was so composed when we did go down. It wasn’t from me, it was them,” Canton head coach Brian Shuman said. “All you hear is, ‘Plenty of time. Plenty of time, plenty of game left.’ … Both teams were exhausted, you saw that. But they were able to still maintain their composure and stay mentally tough, which is such a key in a game like that.”

Canton’s Joey Ryan (20) scores despite efforts from Burlington’s goalie Colin MacLeod (30) and a dive by Michael Bannister (6) during the Div. 2 boys hockey semifinal at Boston College. (Amanda Sabga/Boston Herald)

Trouble loomed as the Red Devils headed to a 5-on-3 shortly after taking the lead. But the penalty kill, led by goalie Matt Wright (12 saves), staved off the first to get back to one-man down, and Ryan scooped a loose puck from the neutral zone for a drive to the net. Gillis followed him, and a deflection bounced off him in front for a 2-2 tie.

“That was more (Ryan) than me,” Gillis said. “I was like, ‘Is this real? This is crazy. We’re back in it. We’re not stopping now.’”

With 26.3 seconds left in the second, sophomore Kellen Labanara’s shot off Colin MacLeod (31 saves) was finished on the rebound by Dickie for the 3-2 lead.

“It’s a Canton High hockey brotherhood in there,” senior co-captain Teddy Shuman said. “We’re all playing for each other. We love each other. So, we’re going to give it all we got and that’s what wins championships.”

Burlington’s Aiden Scalia (20) is cornered by Canton’s Andrew Gillis (25) as his teammate James Gordon (10) tries to assist during the Div. 2 boys hockey semifinal at Boston College. (Amanda Sabga/Boston Herald)

Canton largely shut down Burlington from there, out-shooting it 12-3 in the third period and adding an insurance goal from senior Cullen O’Brien with 2:49 to go. The Devils called timeout and pulled MacLeod, setting up Teddy Shuman and Gillis for empty-netters.

Defense was a driving force in the closeout.

“They locked down,” Brian Shuman said. “They were so good 1-on-1 in that third period. … We don’t really work on a forecheck or anything X’s and O’s a lot this time of year. It’s just all habitually getting into the mindset of winning those battles and making those key plays.”