Box Score It wasn't a win, but the University of Minnesota Duluth still came out of Friday night's National Collegiate Hockey Conference series opener against Colorado College with the next best thing -- two points.

After the two clubs completed overtime locked in a 2-2 stalemate, the host Bulldogs took the shootout, 2-1, and climbed into fourth place in the NCHC standings, just two points out of the top spot.

"Every point is huge in this league, " said sophomore defenseman Andy Welinski, who had one of the two Bulldog goals. "It feels good to get at least two out of this."The Bulldogs, who extended their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3), trailed 1-0 four minutes into the second period before Welinski's slapper from the right point snuck through traffic and past Tiger netminder Josh Thorimbert for his fourth goal of the year -- and second on the power play. Junior center Caleb Herbert, who assisted on Welinski's score, put UMD up at the 13:01 mark of that period when buried a shot from in tight and that lead held up until 10:05 into the third period when Colorado College's Archie Skalbeck got the equalizer.

In the shootout, Herbert converted for the Bulldogs while senior Aaron Crandall stopped all three Tiger attempts. No. 17 UMD (12-9-4 overall; 7-6-2-2 in the NCHC) put a season-high 52 shots on goal and held Colorado College to just 22 shots.

"It felt a little bittersweet, because it would have been nice to get three points," said Crandall, who has made 10 straight starts and has lost only once -- in overtime during that stretch (6-1-3). "But we'll take the two and go for three tomorrow."

Notes: All seven of Caleb Herbert's goals this season have come in even-strength situations ... The Bulldogs haven't allowed a power play goal in their last six home games, going 24 of 24 on the penalty kill ... Andy Welinski is the only UMD defensman to score a goal this season. His four goals in 2013-14 matches equals a career high  ... In its last two games with Colorado College, UMD has outshot the Tigers, 96-36.

Andy Welinski post-game interview