The last time the Colorado College Tigers won back-to-back road games, they were in a different conference — the year 2013 as members of the WCHA when they defeated Denver in the playoffs that season.
In 2016, the Tigers ended the drought behind the play of sophomore goaltender Jacob Nehama, winning 2-1 in Omaha.
“Good to have a goalie,” Omaha coach Dean Blais said. “He was hot and he was lucky. He made five stops just by being in good position, three in the first period that I couldn’t believe.”
It was the first start of the season for Nehama, who returns from an injury sustained back in February of last season. He underwent surgery on his hip in the off season and rehabbed up until his Omaha return.
“It felt great, it’s been eight months since I’ve played a game,” Nehama said. “So just really happy to get out there with the guys and do what we do.”
He made 31 saves in all, 22 in the first two shutout periods when he and the Tigers killed a Mavericks power play in the second period that had been performing as the second best in the country.
“That’s got to be one of the best defensive games those boys have every played in front of me,” Nehama said.
Colorado College was able to lock in on defense thanks to early first-period goals by Mason Bergh and Kade Kehoe scored at 1:37 and 3:20 respectively.
It wasn’t until the third period when Omaha finally got on the board, after Austin Ortega sent one in from the left point to bring Omaha within one.
“We scored that power-play goal to start the third period and I thought we had them,” Blais said. “They just played good defense, didn’t take a lot of penalties, and they did whatever it took to win the game.”
One goal is the lowest scoring production for the Mavericks so far this season. Entering Friday, the Tigers were at the bottom of the ranks in team defense, 56 out of 60 Division I teams, allowing 4.33 goals a game, making Nehama’s return that much more impactful.
“A young man who has really worked at the rehab end of it and to come back after that many months off of not playing in games is a pretty special night for him,” Colorado College coach Mike Haviland said. “I thought he played an extremely good game.”
After the final whistle blew, the team rushed off the bench to congratulate their goaltender in an embrace near the net.
“It was ecstatic,” Nehama said. “Just so exciting and a great feeling go back out there and get a win; you know, we’re just trying to go do it again tomorrow.”
Omaha and Colorado College will battle again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.
NCHC roundup
Western Michigan 6, Miami 3
The Broncos and RedHawks traded goals through the second period tied at three goals apiece, but Western Michigan scored three in the third to get the victory in their league-play home opener.
No. 3 North Dakota 5, at No. 13 Minnesota 5
Minnesota’s Tommy Novak scored twice, including the game-tying score with less than two minutes to play, as the Gophers and Fighting Hawks skated to a 5-5 draw in Minneapolis. Minnesota outshot North Dakota 37-22.
No. 1 Minnesota Duluth 5, No. 8 St. Cloud State 3
Four different Bulldogs scored Friday, Joey Anderson scoring the fourth and fifth in the third period, for Minnesota Duluth’s third straight win. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Huskies.
