PLAYOFF UPDATE

If Denver defeats Alaska-Anchorage Sunday, the Tigers will travel to DU for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. If DU ties or loses, CC goes to Wisconsin next weekend.

Denver game times are 7:37 p.m. Friday and 7:07 Saturday and Sunday (if necessary).

Ticket info should be available on denverpioneers.com soon.

Wisconsin game times are 7:07 p.m. CT Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary).

Here are all the series match-ups based on Sunday’s result:

If Denver wins Sunday:
No. 7 Nebraska0Omaha at No. 6 Minnesota State
No. 8 Colorado College at No. 5 Denver
No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth at  No. 4 Wisconsin
No. 10 Michigan Tech at No. 3 North Dakota
No. 11 Bemidji State at No. 2 Minnesota
No. 12 Alaska Anchorage at No. 1 St. Cloud State
If Denver loses or ties Sunday:
No. 7 Nebraska Omaha at No. 6 Denver
No. 8 Colorado College at No. 5 Wisconsin
No. 9 Minnesota Duluth at No. 4 Minnesota State
No. 10 Michigan Tech at No. 3 North Dakota
No. 11 Bemidji State at No. 2 Minnesota
No. 12 Alaska Anchorage at No. 1 St. Cloud State

Click here for a postgame video interview with CC captain William Rapuzzi.

GAME RECAP

HOUGHTON, Mich. — When challenged this time, Colorado College responded.

CC captain William Rapuzzi broke a five-game scoring drought with a momentum-turning goal that clinched a 4-3 win at Michigan Tech Saturday night and the eighth seed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs next week.

“That fourth goal was huge,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “We were just hanging on after they made it 3-2.”

CC’s road series opponent, the fifth seed, will be determined by the result of Denver’s 11 a.m. Sunday home game against Alaska-Anchorage.

The Tigers’ 3-0 lead in the regular-season finale was in danger of evaporating before Rapuzzi scored 35 seconds after MTU pulled within one, 3-2. The tally gave CC a critical two-goal cushion headed into the third period. Rapuzzi scored as he fell, knocking in the puck as he landed his knees.

The goal was set up by a good back-check by left wing Archie Skalbeck, who harassed the Husky defenders all game long. Skalbeck collected the turnover and passed cross-ice to Winkler, who passed back to the trailing Rapuzzi for the winning shot.

Getting the road win may prove critical for the Tigers (14-17-5, 11-13-4 WCHA).

“This win was real important for us to get some momentum going into the playoffs,” Rapuzzi said.

Colorado College 4, Michigan Tech 3

Colorado College              1              3              0              – 4

Michigan Tech                   0              2              1              –3

First period – 1. CC, Fejes (Hamburg, Bradley) 12:44. Penalties – MTU, Stebner, elbowing, 3:09; CC, Boivin, unsportsmanlike conduct, 9:57; CC, Fejes, hooking, 16:50.

Second period – 2. CC, Bradley (Hamburg) 5:23; 3. CC, Boivin (McDermott, Schwartz) 5:32 (PP); 4. MTU, Petan (Seigo, D. Johnstone) 6:34 (PP); 5. MTU, Gordic (D. Johnstone) 14:58; 6. CC, Rapuzzi (Winkler, Skalbeck) 15:33. Penalties – CC, bench, too many men, 2:09; MTU, Kero, tripping, 5:23; CC, Skalbeck, slashing, 5:51; CC, McDermott, 10-minute misconduct, 14:58.

Third period – 7. MTU, Kero (Petan, Hyland) :54. Penalties – MTU, B. Pietila, boarding, 5:04; MTU, D. Johnstone, boarding, 6:42.

Power play – CC 1-3, MTU 1-4. Shots on goal – CC 9-9-6 – 24; MTU 13-22-14 –49. Saves-minutes – CC, Howe 13-20-13 – 60:00; MTU, Copley 8-6 — 40:00; Genoe 6—18:29. Referees – Adam, Walsh. Linesmen – Juopperi, Moberg. Attendance – 2,669.

STARTERS

CC, Howe, Harstad, McDermott, Skalbeck, Winkler, Rapuzzi;

MTU, Copley, Stebner, Nielsen, D. Johnstone, Khaira, Gordic

LINES

CC shuffled up its lines a bit with William Rapuzzi moving up the Scott Winkler line with Archie Skalbeck.

Michael Morin steps into the No. 4 line’s left wing spot while Russell Finch is playing left defenseman for Ian Young in the third pairing with Joe Marciano.

Colorado College

LW-C-RW

Krushelnyski-Schwartz-Taft

Skalbeck-Winkler-Rapuzzi

Fejes-Bradley-Hamburg

Maric-Collett-Hanson

LD-RD

Stoykewych-Boivin

Harstad-McDermott

Finch-Marciano

Goalies – Howe, Thorimbert

Michigan Tech

LW-C-RW

B. Pietila-Kero-Petan

D. Johnstone-Khaira-Gordic

Furne-J. Johnstone-C. Pietila

Eick-Rix-Gould

LD-RD

Stebner-Nielsen

Seigo-Sweeney

Hyland-Sova

Goalies -- Phillips, Copley, Genoe