Lewis-Palmer moves into 4-way tie for 1st with dominating win

MONUMENT • Behind three power-play goals and a strong performance in net from Brent Schwarz, Lewis-Palmer moved into a first-place tie in the Peak Conference with a 5-0 victory over Rampart on Friday at Colorado Sports Center.

Jordan Fleming scored the first and last goals — both on the power play — as Pikes Peak No. 3 Lewis-Palmer (13-3-3) dominated.

The victory moved the Rangers into a four-way tie with No. 1 Rampart (12-5-2), No. 2 Air Academy and Steamboat Springs.

Lewis-Palmer didn’t play like a team willing to share anything Friday night. The Rangers took advantage of seven power plays. Fleming scored with 3 minutes, 31 seconds left in the first period when a shot deflected off his shoulder into the net.

Coach Stephen Fillo's scouting report pays off.

“I actually enjoy getting those goals more because the (other) team is so much more mad,” Fleming said of his first goal. “Half of our practice is solely on special teams.”

Schwarz made sure that Fleming’s first goal was the game-winner. He stopped 17 shots, including a save on Tyler Kettner with 4:35 to play and the Rangers leading 3-0. Less than a minute later, Travis Fisk scored for a 4-0 advantage.

“The boys in front of me gave me the opportunity to be successful,” Schwarz said.

The Rangers built a 3-0 lead with two goals 88 seconds apart. Chris Clark assisted on one and scored the other. With the way Schwarz played, the Rangers didn’t need the extra goals.

“Brent probably had three or four real big saves,” coach Stephen Fillo said. “He’s peaking at the right time. I have enough confidence in him. ... I know if we give up an odd-man rush, he’s still there.”

The Rams struggled to get anything going in the offensive zone. They were held to six shots in the first period, five in the second and six in the third. Rarely did their shots come in bunches.

But Rampart was done in by its penalties as the Rams skated short-handed seven times.

“They have the best power play in the league,” Rams coach Josh McIntosh said. “We knew ... if it went to a special-teams game where there’s power plays and we’re taking penalties, then we’re in a lot of trouble. And that’s what happened.”