For the Lewis-Palmer hockey team, a second tie in three games felt more like a loss.

It took the Rangers (1-0-2) less than 2 minutes in the second period to jump to a two-goal lead, but they gave up two goals in the final period to finish in a 2-2 tie with Cheyenne Mountain on Monday at Sertich Ice Center.

“We were expecting to battle tonight, and I think both teams really get excited for this game,” Rangers coach Steve Fillo said. “When you’re up by two like that and you lose it at the end, it emotionally feels like a loss.”

Cheyenne Mountain senior defenseman Michael Lewis bounced the puck off the inside of the left post at the 4:44 mark in the third to put the Indians (2-2-1) within one. Sophomore Cole DeBoer was fed by Trevor Isbell in front of the crease for a power-play goal that evened the score  in regulation.

After a Cheyenne Mountain goal was disallowed because of a referee’s whistle in the first minute of overtime, neither team was able to break the tie.

“It was tough to not have that one count, and it’s hard to walk away after a game like that,” Indians coach Mike Provenzano said. “We were really happy to come back from being down two goals, but not totally satisfied.”

Jordan Fleming and Chris Clark scored L-P’s two second-period goals.

Both teams benefitted from excellent goaltending as Lewis-Palmer’s Brent Schwarz stopped 30 shots and Zach Neal made 35 saves for the Indians.

“Those goalies were the stars of the game tonight,” Fillo said. “With average goalies in there, this would have been a 6-6 tie at least.”

Both teams relied on their first two lines.

“We’ve just now gotten everybody healthy,” Provenzano said. “I told (the team) we’ve got to have some of those third and fourth line guys step up if we want to stay in it this year.”

Cheyenne Mountain’s Geoff Pippus is the athlete of the week. Photo by Mark Reis, The Gazette