In sports, it is often said that when two teams tie, it is like 'kissing your sister.'

Wisconsin Rapids coach Pat McDonald disagreed with a broad smile on his face after his club scrapped with home team Stevens Point and finished with a 2-2 tie that dramatically altered the landscape that is the Wisconsin Valley Conference conference title battle.

With the result of tonight's game at the K.B. Willett Arena and a win over Merrill next Thursday, the Red Raiders will claim their second straight WVC title and sixth in school history. Only SPASH (9) and Wausau West (8) have more banners hanging in their rinks denoting conference supremacy.

'That might be the best tie we've ever said,' said 'Mac' with a grin a mile wide.

The two squads battled between the bluelines early in the first period, with neither team getting the upper hand despite a couple opportunities on both ends.

After a Rapids penalty, the home boys struck first in the middle of the period.

Rapids goalie Tyler Werne stopped the initial shot, but Grant Czaikowski was camped on the proverbial doorstep to bang home the power play rebound and a 1-0 SPASH lead, much to the delight of the home crowd on a 'Pink the Rink' game in which the home team was clad in pink sweaters.

Kobe Keller and Jacob Dufresne earned helpers on the play.

The teams skated off with the 1-0 Panthers lead and an 8-5 shot edge in favor of SPASH.

The Panthers attacked again on the man advantage in the middle of the second period to extend their lead to a pair of goals.

Midway through the power play, Austin Haas took a pass and fired a shot from the slot that pinged off the right post and behind Werne for the 2-0 lead. Keller and Brock Caufield were given assists on the scoring play.

Rapids got back into the game less than a minute later.

Grant Scharmer found the puck on his stick in the low slot and beat SPASH goalie Nathan Siclovan just 25 seconds later to cut the lead to 2-1. Luc Kreuser and Casey Esselman earned assists on the play at the 11:28 mark.