Friday, February 22, 2008

No. 4 CC 3, No. 13 Minnesota-Duluth 0 (final)

Colorado College didn't played well on the NHL-sized sheet at Michigan Tech a month ago and Minnesota-Duluth's surface is even smaller.
But the Tigers were able to match Duluth's physicality at moments and got clutch saves from goaltender Richard Bachman whenever they had breakdowns.
CC took advantage of two Duluth miscues midway through the second period, with centers Chad Rau and Andreas Vlassopoulos, and got a crucial third goal from Vlassopoulos less than 5 minutes into the third period. Getting the three-goal lead has typically proved elusive for CC.
Short two players for the final 40 minutes, CC was able to earn two points and sole possession of first place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. (North Dakota is playing a series against Bemidji State this weekend.)

See shot chart here.

--CC and Duluth showed why their penalty kills are ranked first and second, respectively, in the nation. The Tigers edge Duluth by .1 percent with a 90.2 percent clip.
--The Tigers' centers had one of their best nights on faceoffs. Rau was 11 for 22. Vlassopoulos was 8 for 16. Brian McMillin was 6 of 10. Tyler Johnson was 6 of 12. (Left wing Scott McCulloch was 0 for 1.)
--McCulloch was scoreless on five shots, including three point-blank opportunities. He should be fired up tomorrow.
--Rau and Vlassopoulos each snapped eight-game scoreless streaks.

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