The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey returned to AMSOIL Arena for their first home game after winter break, hungry for conference points and a win. The Bulldogs' hard-fought lead on No. 17/18 Colorado College nearly flipped, but sophomore Ben Steeves closed out the game in overtime.

The opening period had seven total penalties. Four of them were roughing penalties, stemming from an incident late with under a minute left. In total, UMD had five power play chances. Despite being third in the nation in power play percentage, the Bulldogs were unable to convert with the man advantage. 

CC outshot UMD 13-7 in the first period, but the real story was defense. Both teams were digging in, on and off the penalty kill. Forwards Luke Loheit and Connor McMenamin both made big blocks for UMD, ensuring a 0-0 score after 20 minutes. 

However, it took just under five minutes of the second period for sophomore Jack Smith to get the Bulldogs on the board. Smith took a shot from the boards, outside the circle, and snuck the puck past the unsuspecting Tiger netminder. 

All around, the middle frame was a boost for UMD. They closed the shot deficit, ending the period tied 24-24 in shots on goal. 

The early third period belonged to the Bulldogs as well. UMD sent it around the boards, then from Aiden Dubinsky to Owen Gallatin across the blue line. Gallatin sent the puck towards the net. Thanks to a battle blocking the CC goalie's sightline, it sailed over his glove and in. 

Neither team could break through on the power play, but the tide still turned in the Tigers favor Following a CC power play in the third period, they created netfront chaos, left the Bulldogs scrambling, and got on the board for the first time tonight.

Thirty seconds after pulling their goalie, the Tigers got another break. Alternate Captain Stanley Cooley scored his second of the game and forced overtime, bringing his team back from a two-goal deficit. 

In overtime, Matthew Perkins and Steeves made their way into the offensive zone in a 2-on-1 rush. Steeves kept the puck until he found an open shot, ending the Tigers comeback hopes. The team-leading scorer notched his fifteenth goal of the season and extended his goal streak to five games. 

The Bulldogs skate back out on home ice against CC again tomorrow, January 13 at 7:07 p.m.