No. 4 CC 2, St. Cloud State 4 (final)

Less than 3 minutes into the second period of CC's first loss at World Arena this season, it looked like the Tigers were poised to make yet another comeback.

But CC just couldn't make enough happen, even with two big calls in the third period to swing momentum in its favor.

Most of CC's shots were from the perimeter as St. Cloud State had three, four and, at some points, five players clustered in front of the net. Saturday's game called for a bit more grittiness around the net than the Tigers gave. You can see it in the shot chart.

Before St. Cloud State took a two-goal lead with two goals in 27 seconds midway through the first, CC was doing a decent job of keeping the puck below the circles and maintaining pressure. Defenseman David Carlisle's slap shot from the blue line ricocheted off goaltender Richard Bachman's pads and into the net. Bachman was trying to go into a butterfly to make the save, but Carlisle's shot was simply too hard. Then, St. Cloud State's Matt Hartman fed Garrett Roe from behind the net and Roe knocked it in for the quick two-goal lead.

Five minutes later, CC drew within a goal when defenseman Jack Hillen ripped a shot from the high slot near the blue line. Center Tyler Johnson tipped it past goaltender Jase Weslosky for his fourth career goal. But 1:23 later, Hartman passed behind Bachman to Roe, who finished into the net.

CC scored 2:32 into the second when Johnson made a scrappy play and centering pass before being pancaked by Carlisle. Eric Walsky scored for his first goal since Jan. 11.

You can read about the third-period opportunities Sunday at www2.gazette.com/tigerden.

--Don't forget about Sunday's Skate with the Tigers at Sertich Ice Center from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.