The No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team two-goal third period wasn't enough to catch No. 9 Colorado College Saturday night after the Tigers netted four goals in the second frame to push them to a 5-3 triumph over the Bulldogs in Ed Robson Arena.
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In the loss, UMD settles for the series split National Collegiate Hockey Association play after defeating CC 1-0 Friday night.
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Unlike Friday's game that found goals hard to come by both teams, Saturday was an offensive clinic. The Tiger exploded in the second period, ignited by two special team goals less than two goals apart. Bret Link had both a shorthanded goal (6:54) and a power play goal (8:25) to help the Tigers take a 2-0 lead. Bulldog Callum Arnott broke up the scoring minutes later to make it a 2-1 game, but Owen Beckner followed just seven seconds later to extend CC's lead to 3-1.
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That Tiger lead again expanded at 16:02, and after 40 minutes of play, the home team was up 4-1.
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The Bulldogs bit back in the third behind freshman defenseman Carter Murphy's first goal at UMD, a sweet snipe from the circle at the 5:59 mark.Â
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17:31 into the frame, Zam Plante pulled UMD within a single goal extending out to pop the puck in and all of a sudden, the Bulldogs were in business.
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The Bulldogs shelled CC 16-2 in the final period, but the Tigers were able to pick up the series split with an empty net at 19:33 to seal the win.Â
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Overall, UMD outshot CC 32-23, and the Tigers broke Carl Axelsson's seven period shutout streak in the second period. Axelsson made 18 saves in his first collegiate loss, and CC improves to 6-2-0 overall and 1-1-0 in NCHC play.
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The Bulldogs (6-2-2-, 1-1-0) will return to the confines of AMSOIL Arena next weekend to host Miami University (Ohio). The Friday-Saturday series will get underway at 7:07 p.m.
