HOUGHTON, Mich. — Playoff-style hockey came a week early for Colorado College and it cost the Tigers in a competitive road game.
Host Michigan Tech used its size and took advantage of the smaller NHL sheet to slow down the Tigers and grind out a 2-0 win over eighth-place CC Friday night.
The loss showed CC that it must battle through a strong defense and attack the net, especially during next week’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series at an opponent to be determined.
“Playoff hockey is defensive hockey,” senior center Rylan Schwartz said. “We have to fight and work harder to score.”
It came down to individual battles lost in front of the MTU net.
“I didn’t think we lowered the shoulder and drove to the net enough,” said Tigers coach Scott Owens. “We didn’t pay the price to generate more scoring chances.”
Good scoring opportunities were few on Friday, helping Tech freshman goalie Jamie Phillips record his first college shutout (22 saves) in only his third start to the delight of the 2,639 fans at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
Michigan Tech 2, Colorado College 0
Colorado College 0 0 0 –0
Michigan Tech 1 0 1 –2
First period – 1. MTU, Gordic (Khaira, D. Johnstone) 9:40. Penalties – MTU, Petan, interference, 6:44; MTU, A. Pietila, tripping, 13:11; CC, McDermott, interference, 14:08.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – CC, Boivin, slashing, 9:07; CC, Rapuzzi, tripping, 9:24; MTU, Sweeney, holding, 14:42; CC. Krushelnyski, holding, 18:45; MTU, D. Johnstone, unsportsmanlike, 18:45; MTU, J. Johnstone, embellishment, 18:45.
Third period – 2. MTU, Kero (B. Pietila, Seigo) 19:39 (EN). Penalties – CC, Marciano, interference, 1:16.
Power play – CC 0-4, MTU 0-3. Shots on goal – CC 8-9-5 – 22; MTU 11-11-11 – 33. Saves-minutes — CC, Howe 10-11-10 – 59:41; MTU, Phillips 8-9-5 – 60:00. Referees – Adam, Walsh. Linesmen – Juopperi, Moberg. Attendance – 2,639.
ROUNDUP
Sorry for the delay on the update. The power (and wireless) at my motel and much of downtown Houghton was out until after I fell asleep on Friday night.
No. 8 St. Cloud State 4, No. 13 Wisconsin 2
MADISON — Jonny Brodzinski, Nick Jensen and Drew LeBlanc scored third-period goals to send St. Cloud State to a 4-2 win against Wisconsin on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Huskies earned at least a share of the regular season title with the win.
No. 2 Minnesota 4, Bemidji State 3
BEMIDJI — Junior forward Nick Bjugstad scored his second goal of the game at 14:54 of the third period to lift Minnesota to a 4-3 come-from-behind win against Bemidji State on Friday night at Sanford Center.
No. 5 North Dakota 4, No. 10 Minnesota State 3
MANKATO — Senior forward Carter Rowney and freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi each had a goal and an assist to help North Dakota skate to a 4-3 win against Minnesota State on Friday night at Verizon Wireless Center.
Minnesota-Duluth 5, No. 16 Nebraska-Omaha 4
DULUTH — Senior forward Mike Seidel scored two of Minnesota Duluth’s four goals in the second period as the Bulldogs skated to a 5-4 win against Nebraska Omaha on Friday night at AMSOIL Arena.
No. 12 Denver 7, Alaska-Anchorage 1
DENVER — Sophomore forward Ty Loney had three assists and sophomore forward Zac Larraza scored twice to lead Denver to a 7-1 win against Alaska Anchorage on Friday night at Magness Arena.
DU scored twice in the final 28 seconds of the first period to take a 3-1 lead and blow the game open. The series resumes Sunday morning.
LINES
No changes from Saturday by the Tigers.
Michigan Tech freshman goalie Jamie Phillips gets his second start in a row off heels of 5-1 road win at St. Cloud State.
Colorado College
LW-C-RW
Krushelnyski-Schwartz-Taft
Skalbeck-Winkler-Hanson
Fejes-Bradley-Rapuzzi
Maric-Collett-Hamburg
LD-RD
Stoykewych-Boivin
Harstad-McDermott
Young-Marciano
Goalies – Howe, Thorimbert
Michigan Tech
LW-C-RW
B. Pietila-Kero-Petan
Furne-J. Johnstone-Hietala
D. Johnstone-Khaira-Gordic
Eick-Rix-A. Pietila
LD-RD
Seigo-Sweeney
Hyland-Sova
Stebner-Nielsen
Goalies -- Phillips, Copley, Genoe
TRAVEL ROSTER
Backup goalie Courtney Lockwood, defenseman Michael King, center Jordan DiGiando and wing Scott Wamsganz did not travel with the Tigers for this weekend’s series at Michigan Tech.
Colorado College dedicated the Adam F. Press Fitness Center Friday afternoon to complete a three-stage, $27-million renovations and new construction project of the El Pomar Sports Center.
