Second-period push lifts Colorado College past Gophers

Colorado College scored three unanswered second-period goals and scored three more goals in the third period in a 6-4 victory over the ninth-ranked Gophers men’s hockey team Sunday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice for the Gophers (9-6-4), putting Minnesota on the scoreboard first with a goal 4 minutes, 40 seconds into the second period. The Tigers (10-6-1) then got goals from Bret Link, Gleb Veremyev and Tyler Coffey, who scored on the power play, to take a 3-1 advantage.

John Mittelstadt temporarily stopped the bleeding with a goal 7 minutes, 12 seconds into the third period, but Link answered right back with a goal just over two minutes later.

Snuggerud cut the gap back to one with 9 minutes, 16 seconds remaining. Then Zaccharya Wisdom gave the Tigers a two-goal lead again with 2 minutes, 32 seconds remaining, only to see Brody Lamb score for the Gophers 15 seconds later to close the gap back to one.

Noah Laba scored an empty-net goal in the waning seconds to ice the game for the Tigers.

Justen Close stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced and had an assist for the Gophers. Kaidan Mbereko had 33 saves on 37 shots for the Tigers, who were outshot 37-29.

The two teams are set for a rematch on Monday. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.