For a University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team off to one of the best starts in program history, Saturday skates have been been responsible for the squad's lone losses. In Colorado Springs, Colo. inside Ed Robson Arena Saturday, the fourth-ranked Bulldogs were bit by that trend for a fourth time this season, falling 2-1 in overtime to Colorado College.
UMD has been perfect on Friday nights (8-0) and now .500 on the second game of the series. But it was the Bulldogs who struck first Saturday on a goal from its scrappy, blue collar second line.
Scout Truman's sixth goal of the season gave UMD the first goal of the game, and it came on a delayed penalty call and an extra Bulldog skater. Truman tipped down a shot from above the right circle from Kyle Gaffney at 11:22 of the frame for the 1-0 lead. Gaffney and Blake Bechen had the assists – it was Gaffney's third of the season and Bechen's fourth.
CC knotted the game at 1-1 2:54 into the third period when Gavin Lindberg intercepted a UMD pass in the Bulldog defensive zone and used the 1-on-0 to finally beat Adam Gajan.
The Tigers outshot UMD 14-8 in the rest of the final regulation frame to no avail, and after securing the extra National Collegiate Hockey Conference point, the Bulldogs found themselves in their third overtime contest of the season.
It took just 50 seconds for CC to grab the extra league point on a play that started on the stick of goaltender Kaidan Mbereko and ended with a goal scoring drive to net by Bjorck Wilson.
Gajan made a season-high 38 saves in the game, just four off his career high of 42. CC outshot UMD 40-30, and neither team scored on its power play – UMD had its first five minute power play of the season but only had a skater advantage for three-of-the-five minutes after picking up a minor infraction in the middle of it. CC was scoreless in one attempt, while Mbereko had 29 saves for the Tigers, who improved to 7-6-1 and 2-5-1 in NCHC play.
The Bulldogs (12-4-0, 7-6-1-2-5-1) will get their first weekend off from outside competition next week before they travel to Western Michigan University to face the defending NCAA champions in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Dec. 5-6.
BULLDOG NOTES: UMD had 14 blocks to CC's five … it ties the fourth most blocks by the Bulldogs in a game this season … the Bulldogs are now 12-6-2 in Colorado Springs since the 2013-14 season … the Bulldogs leave Colorado Springs with four points on the road and the upper hand in the series ... UMD is 2-1 in overtime games this season and 1-1 in extra time on Saturdays … all four of the Bulldogs losses have come on a Saturday this season.
