SUPERIOR >> Carving through the top hockey teams in the state over the past three weeks, Class 5A No. 1 Monarch has proven — to others and itself — it can slay any giant.

It’s a low-ranked team with a losing record — the No. 13 Sabercats — that continues to be a thorn in its side.

On Friday night at the Sports Stable, tempers flared on the home bench during the second period of the teams’ 3-3 draw. The Coyotes (9-1-3) are now 0-1-1 against Castle View (5-8-1) this season.

“We just got a little chippy at each other on the bench,” Monarch senior forward Zachary Rathbun said. “In the middle of the second period, it kind of went downhill. We were yelling at each other. But at intermission, we regrouped.”

The Coyotes did look refocused after being tied after two periods, controlling play in both the third and overtime. They just had nothing to show for it.

In OT’s final minute, Gray Schlosser, Jaren Ng and Luke Taylor each had good looks.

Schlosser was robbed in front of the net as Castle View goalie Corey Clouthier stretched wide for the deny. Schlosser was then knocked down near the crease as Ng and Taylor each tried to put in the rebound.

Nothing went through.

“In the second, we lost our composure and started pointing fingers,” Monarch coach Jimmy Dexter said after the game. “In the third, we played much better and didn’t give them many chances. But we didn’t bury our opportunities. And in OT, we had a ton of chances and just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

As for the heated exchanges between teammates? No big deal, the Coyotes said. It, of course, is commonplace in sports.

And while they don’t want to make in-game arguments the norm going forward, they were able to find a silver lining after the boil-over on Friday.

“It shows we care a lot,” Rathbun said. “We just have to find a better way to deliver it to each other. Instead of yelling, take a breath and think what you could have done differently, then talk to your teammates.”

The tie put an end to a most-impressive, five-game winning streak.

Since Jan. 8, Monarch beat No. 3 Valor Christian, No. 4 Regis Jesuit, No. 5 Cherry Creek and No. 6 Denver East over an eight-day span. It then blasted No. 11 Resurrection Christian 8-2 on Thursday.

Friday was a chance to notch a sixth straight win, which would have been the Coyotes’ longest win streak since 2021-22. Not to mention it was a great opportunity to right its 6-4 defeat to CV from Dec. 21.

They just fell short.

Charlie Broome scored 27 seconds into regulation for Monarch, and Luke Taylor added to the lead a few minutes later in what, for a while at least, looked like an incoming blowout. The Sabercats took a penalty late in the period and scored on the power play to cut the deficit. They were down 3-1 after Jake Oullahan scored his seventh goal of the season early into the second before rallying to even things heading into the third.

Joshua Ringoen stopped 37 shots for the Coyotes, while counterpart Clouthier finished with 39 saves.

Rathbun added an assist, extending his points streak to five games. He leads the team with 18 points this winter — seven goals and 11 assists. Next, the Coyotes face a couple of double-digit seeds — No. 12 Ralston Valley at home Saturday and Rez Christian on the road on Jan. 31. Two of their last three in the regular season will then come against expected state-title contenders. They’ll be at Poudre School District Feb. 8 and Regis Jesuit Feb. 12.