The University of Minnesota Duluth struck for three power play goals, including the game-winner from sophomore left winger Cole Koepke with 18.2 seconds to go in third period, and took down visiting Colorado College 4-3 Friday night in the front end of a weekend National Collegiate Hockey Conference series.

Koepke's scored on a one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle off a feed from two-time All-American junior defenseman Scott Perunovich, who has now picked up an assist on each of the Bulldogs' last eight goals. Perunovich's four-point evening equaled a career high, 

The No. 9 Bulldogs, who outshot the Tigers 43-22, improved to 6-4-1 overall and 3-1-1-0 in NCHC play, 

The Tigers (4-4-1 overall; 2-2-1-0 NCHC) got on the board first at 1:01 of the second period before sophomore Jackson Cates took a pass from his younger brother and linemate, sophomore left winger Noah Cates, in the low slot and buried his fifth goal of the year at the 14:15 mark of the same period. Colorado College's Nick Halloran responded a little over three minutes later with a man advantage score of his own to put the Tigers back on top. UMD took its first lead of the night with back-to-back third period goals from junior left winger Kobe Roth (4:06) and sophomore left winger Tanner Laderoute (on the power play at 15:08). With its goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Colorado College drew even on Halloran's second goal of the night with 1:41 to go in regulation, ultimately paving the way for Koepke's heroics.

Senior All-American netminder Hunter Shepard, making his  92nd consecutive start, finished with 22 saves en route to posting his 60th lifetime victory. That ties him with Rick Kosti (1983-85) and Taras Lendyk (1992-96) for the UMD program lead.

 "Our power play was big tonight," said UMD head coach Scott Sandelin. "It was a good game game for us, but we still need to clean some things up."