No. 3 Colorado College downed top-ranked Minnesota on Friday night, scoring three unanswered goals to take a 3-1 win. Minnesota becomes the latest team to lose immediately after being voted No. 1 in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll.
The Golden Gophers (10-4-0, 6-3-0 WCHA) took the game’s first lead in the opening period, but the Tigers (11-2-0, 5-2-0) stormed back with three unanswered goals to remain undefeated at home this season at 9-0-0.
The Golden Gophers took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission with Danny Irmen scoring his seventh goal of the season. At 9:41, Ben Gordon picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and skated into the CC zone on a 2-on-2 with Irmen.
Gordon threw the puck to the low slot with Irmen tipping it under Tiger goaltender Curtis McElhinney’s arm for the go-ahead goal. The lamplighter was Irmen’s first since scoring two on Nov. 6 vs. Wisconsin, while the assist gave Gordon his first career point streak.
The Maroon and Gold outshot Colorado College, 10-4, in the opening period.
The Tigers stormed back in the second period, outscoring Minnesota 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. At 5:52, Marty Sertich got CC going, picking up a rebound off a Brett Sterling shot and beating UM goaltender Kellen Briggs to the stick side.
Colorado College took its first lead of the game at 13:07 on Joey Crabb’s tally. Sterling took a shot from the right circle with Briggs making a pad save, but Crabb grabbed the rebound at the left circle and fired the puck into the open net to gain the lead.
The Tigers outshot Minnesota, 14-12, for the period.
Colorado College added to its lead in the third period with James Brannigan’s first career goal. At 9:00, after a scramble in front of the net, Brannigan skated in and knocked the loose puck past a sprawling Briggs to make it 3-1.
For the period, CC outshot the Golden Gophers, 7-4. Minnesota finished the game with a 26-25 margin on the shot board, but went 0-for-5 on the power play.
Briggs made 22 saves in the losing effort, while McElhinney improved to 8-0-0 on the season with 25 saves.
