Playing within the friendly confines of the World Arena for the first time in more than a month, Colorado College didn't waste any time capitalizing on the opportunity on Friday. 

The Tigers popped in four first-period goals and coasted to a 7-0 victory over the University of Alabama-Huntsville in the opener of their two-game non-conference series that precedes six consecutive weekends of WCHA play. They'll shoot for their first home-ice sweep of the season in Saturday's rematch, starting at 7:07 p.m. MT. 

With its initial triumph of the 2011 calendar year, CC snapped a three-game losing skid and improved to 13-11-1 overall. Alabama-Huntsville, the nation's only remaining DIvision I independent, dropped to 3-22-2.

Freshman center Archie Skalbeck fueled Friday's early fireworks with his sixth and seventh tallies of the campaign. Those were sandwiched between red lighters by sophomore right wing William Rapuzzi at 2:07 and junior defenseman Gabe Guentzel at 18:03 of the opening frame.

Senior forward Tyler Johnson, who climbed into a tie for the team scoring lead, struck for his 16th goal of season early in the second period and added a pair of assists for a three-point night.

Freshman Josh Thorimbert and senior Tyler O'Brien shared the goaltending duties. Thorimbert started and stopped all 14 UAH shots he faced through the first 40 minutes. O'Brien made three saves in the scoreless third period to preserve the shutout.

All in all, 13 different Tigers recorded at least one point in the team's biggest offensive explosion in front of its home fans since a 9-2 drubbing of archrival Denver back on Nov. 6. Freshman wingers Dakota Eveland and Jeff Collett each picked up two assists.

Junior center David Civitarese notched his second goal of '10-11 just 33 seconds after Johnson's to increase CC's cushion to 6-0 less than three minutes into the middle stanza. Sophomore defenseman Michael Boivin was credited with his first of the season with 20.2 seconds left in the period, after the referees reviewed a play that was initially ruled no goal. Boivin also added an assist.