Alexander Krushelnyski scored on a penalty shot with 1:14 remaining in overtime to give Colorado College a heart-stopping 4-3 victory over the University of Denver in a nationally televised game on Friday night at the World Arena.

Krushelnyski, who moments earlier was hauled down on a breakaway by sophomore defenseman David Makowski, slid a one-handed backhander past freshman goaltender Johu Olkinuora at the right post to set off a wild celebration on the ice and among the sellout crowd of 7,674.

“Winks (junior forward Scott Winkler) and I were talking on the bench before overtime,” the sophomore left wing said. “He told me that one of us was going to be the hero.

“The last penalty shot I had was when I was in the eighth grade. I scored on that one, too.”

The Pioneers had a chance to take a come-from-behind victory inside the final minute, but CC junior goalkeeper Joe Howe denied Jason Zucker on a breakaway. Zucker factored in on all three Denver tallies, scored twice and adding an assist.

Howe finished with 30 saves, while Olkinuora stopped 28 shots for DU.

Winkler and junior defenseman Joe Marciano found the net during the second period to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

Beau Bennett tied the game with 5:52 remaining in the third to set up the dramatic conclusion.

Krushelnyski opened the scoring midway through the first frame with the first of two Colorado College power-play goals, tapping in a pass from Nick Dineen off a rebound of Winklers shot from the high slot.

Zucker scored with 4:08 to play in the first period and again 3:22 into the second to give Denver its only lead of the contest.

CC improved to 8-4-0 overall and 6-4-0 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, climbing past the Pioneers into fourth place in the league standings. Denver slipped to 6-5-3 overall and 4-3-3 in the WCHA.

The Tigers are home again next Friday and Saturday when they play host to the University of Alaska Anchorage.