After an encouraging start on Friday, Colorado College appeared to sink into a deep chill.

And, seizing the opportunity, the University of Minnesota Duluth took full advantage.  

The Bulldogs struck for three unanswered goals in the second period, two within a span of 95 seconds early in the frame, and drew first blood in the teams' two-game WCHA series with a 5-2 victory at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. 

In handing the Tigers their second consecutive defeat, UMD climbed into a tie with them for second place in the league standings, both with 19 points.

Third-ranked CC, which has won just twice in its last eight outings, dropped to 12-6-3 overall and 8-4-3 in conference play. Minnesota Duluth, No. 13 in this week's national polls, improved to 13-7-1 overall and 9-5-1 in WCHA play.

Junior winger Stephen Schultz banged in a rebound of a shot by sophomore center David Civitarese midway through the first period, staking the visitors to a 1-0 lead before UMD drew even on Kyle Schmidt's backhander through traffic at the 17:44 mark.

Seconds away from killing off a penalty in the opening minutes of the second session, the Tigers failed to clear the zone and surrendered a power-play goal by Duluth captain Drew Akins at 4:31. Mike Connolly, who added a pair of assists in the triumph, then picked up a loose puck and made it 3-1 just 1:35 later after CC got sloppy inside its own blue line.

When Justin Fontaine tipped in Jack Connolly's shot on another Bulldogs power play at 11:03 of that middle period, junior goaltender Tyler O'Brien replaced freshman Joe Howe in the College College nets. It was the first time this season that Howe, who stopped 10 of the 14 shots he faced, has been yanked.

O'Brien made 12 saves the rest of the way, allowing another red lighter by Fontaine at 2:25 of the third period. Again, the goal came during a UMD power play.

Bill Sweatt pulled the Tigers to within 4-2, clicking for his 10th goal of the season just 44 seconds into that final frame, but when Fontaine countered at 2:25, any hopes of a comeback were put on ice. Colorado College, which fired 11 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes of play, finished with a season-low 19 for the night, including just three in third period. CC was 0-for-6 on the power play.