Colorado College really has its work cut out now.

The Tigers head into Game 2 of their first-round WCHA playoff series with the University of Minnesota Duluth in a do-or-die predicament, facing elimination after suffering a 4-1 loss to the Bulldogs in Friday's opener at the World Arena.

In plain and simple terms, CC must bounce back and win on Saturday and Sunday, or the season is over.

Senior  center MacGregor Sharp set up a power-play goal then scored one of his own in the first period, as visiting UMD got an early jump and never looked back in Game 1 of this best-of-three set. Freshman forwards Mike and Jack Connolly collected a pair of assists apiece while Josh Meyers, Jordan Fulton and Justin Fontaine each clicked for a key tally in the victory.

Colorado College's only goal, at 15:53 of the middle frame, came on a semi-breakaway by Eric Walsky. Sophomore net minder Richard Bachman banked a pass off the boards to Walsky as Duluth finished killing a long 5-on-3 power play for CC, and the senior winger soloed in to score his 12th goal of the season to pull the Tigers to within 3-1.

Fontaine's red lighter at 3:52 of the third period ended any further hopes for a comeback.

Bachman finished with 35 saves compared to 36 by Bulldogs goaltender Alex Stalock, who made 15 of his stops in the second period when CC had four consecutive power plays, including the two-man advantage for 1:56.