The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team finished off its series versus Colorado College tonight, splitting the series. For the second night in a row, a 2-2 game extended into overtime. Tonight, the Tigers scored the deciding goal and the Bulldogs added a single National College Hockey Conference point to yesterday's two. 

Early on the games looked similar, with a scoreless first period. The Bulldogs took a tripping call with just over two minutes left. On the penalty kill, however, UMD outplayed CC. The Tigers took one shot, which was blocked, while the Bulldogs got three shots at the other end. 

With ten seconds left in the CC Power Play, Joey Pierce sprung an open Carter Loney for his second short-handed chance. Lony found an opening blockerside, scored his first career short-handed goal, and got UMD the lead going into intermission. 

The Tigers dominated offensive chances at the start of the second period, getting off three shots in the first 30 seconds. A turnover in the Bulldogs' defensive zone gave CC a brief 3-on-2 opportunity. They passed left to right, tying up the game just over two minutes into the period.

There was a scramble in front of the Tigers' net on the next play, while Kyle Bettens sat alone on the other side. As his teammates regained possession, Bettens called for the puck and wasted no time, even the goaltender and a defenseman sliding his direction. 

It was quiet until the very end of the period. Another netfront scramble, this time at the other end, led to a goal. CC took advantage of traffic and snuck one in with under a second left on the clock. 

In the third period, UMD outshot their opponent with 17-6 on goal and 30-10 total. They also closed in on the faceoff dot, winning eight of nineteen. Still, neither team scored in the final twenty minutes of regulation. 

For the second time this weekend, the Bulldogs and Tigers went to overtime. Two and half minutes in, CC got a clear look, ending the series. Both teams picked up three conference points. With a series split, UMD remained one point behind in the NCHC standings. 

"Two evenly matched teams, it showed in the results," Head Coach Scott Sandelin said postgame. "We scored last night, they scored tonight. We had some chances at the end. It was a good hockey game."

The Bulldogs are back on the road next weekend, traveling to Kalamazoo for another NCHC series against Western Michigan. The teams faceoff at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, January 19 and 5 p.m. CT on Saturday, January 20.