It's official.

For just the second time in 17 years, Colorado College will be on the road for the opening round of the WCHA playoffs.

After suffering another heart-stopping 3-2 loss to the University of North Dakota on Saturday, the Tigers can finish no higher than sixth in the regular-season standings.

They'll wrap up league play with a home-and-home series against arch-rival University of Denver next weekend, trying to snap a four-game losing skid and find a way to retain possession of the Gold Pan. The Pioneers clinched the WCHA title and MacNaughton Cup on Saturday with a 4-3 overtime triumph at Minnesota State.

CC, now 17-14-3 overall and below .500 (11-12-3) in league play for the first time all season, couldn't buy a break in its weekend set with the Fighting Sioux.

North Dakota, which claimed a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory in Friday's series opener, used second-period tallies less than four minutes apart by junior Matt Frattin and freshman Danny Kristo – both of whom also scored a night earlier – to snap a 1-1 tie and complete the sweep in Saturday's finale.

Colorado College defenseman Mike Boivin, a freshman, scored the first goal of his collegiate career, beating UND net minder Brad Eidsness high on the stick side after taking a pass from Tyler Johnson in the slot at 1:42 of the middle frame to knot the contest. But Frattin struck back at 10:19 and Kristo added what proved to be the game winner at 14:10.

The Tigers, who failed to convert on five power plays for the second consecutive night, made things interesting in the end. Freshman goaltender Joe Howe, who finished with 28 saves, left the ice in favor of a sixth attacker with 2:25 left to play, and with 2:09 showing on the clock, Johnson redirected Ryan Lowery's shot past Eidsness to cut the deficit to a single goal. CC swarmed in the Sioux zone the rest of the way, coming within inches of tying the game, but just couldn't find the back of the net again.

Eidsness wound up with 27 saves, while Chris VandeVelde scored a power-play goal for North Dakota in the first period.