By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

WATERVILLE – They’ve created artificial, fan-friendly formulas to eliminate ties and heighten fan enthusiasm at almost every other level of hockey.

Lewiston didn’t need to feign frustration or excitement after Tuesday’s 2-2 deadlock with Waterville in an Eastern Class A matinee at Alfond Arena.

The Blue Devils weren’t dancing for joy after wasting what they felt were fabulous chances to steal a victory at the end of regulation and in overtime. But the stalemate should yield enough Heal Points to help Lewiston avoid a rematch with Waterville any earlier than the regional final, and that was enough to coax a few reluctant smiles.

“A tie was good. A win would have been better,” said Jordan Bourgoin, whose power-play goal pulled Lewiston even with 2:04 left in the third period.

Lewiston (12-6-2) entered the game fourth in the Eastern A standings, putting the Blue Devils on a collision course with top-ranked Waterville (13-5-2) pending their survival of the quarterfinals next week.

Splitting the difference with the Purple Panthers, coupled with the continuing windfall from a 5-3 victory over Waterville on Jan. 24, should launch Lewiston to second or third.

“We had some great opportunities, especially in overtime, and we just couldn’t put it away,” said Lewiston coach Norm Gagne. “But we overcame a lot of adversity in coming back from being down 1-0 and 2-1, and Jordan Bourgoin getting that goal for us showed a lot of composure for a sophomore.”

Gagne couldn’t be blamed for sounding emotionally spent.

It was his first visit back to the rink at Colby College since he retired from Waterville. Gagne, a Lewiston native, led the Purple Panthers (13-5-2) to multiple state championships in his tenure.

Two of the seven seniors playing their final home game, Jason Fitton and Barrett Moore, each scored on the power play for Waterville.

“I coached a lot of those kids over there at the start of their career,” Gagne said.

Moore set up Fitton’s goal at 1:32 of the first period. Fitton flagged down the puck behind the net and stuffed it past Lewiston goalie Brian Nason inside the right post. It was a rare opportunity against Nason, who finished with 35 saves.

Ian Doucette delivered Lewiston’s first equalizer at 8:42 of the second. Zack Blauvelt and Danny Cloutier were credited with assists on the shot that slipped through a screen and past Waterville netminder Joey Fonollosa (33 saves).

Moore redirected Zach Jochem’s blast from the point to reclaim the lead for Waterville just 32 seconds into the third period.

Toby Poirier set up Bourgoin’s uncontested sprint from center ice to a clean shot at Fonollosa with time running out in regulation.

“We caught their defense a little flat-footed,” Bourgoin said.

Before those heroics, Lewiston lamented wasting what was potentially a five-minute power play.

Jochem received a five-minute major penalty and misconduct for hitting Travis Lebrun from behind at 7:17 of the third. But the Devils couldn’t deliver on several point-blank bids against Fonollosa, and the extended man advantage ended up being a penalty kill when Lewiston was whistled for two minor infractions in a 78-second span.

“We were just skating around, not making good decisions with the puck,” Gagne said. “I almost called time out just to settle us down, and I probably should have.”