Colorado College took one small step in the WCHA standings and one giant leap toward hoisting the Gold Pan. 

With a huge 3-2 victory over the No. 2-ranked University of Denver at a sold-out World Arena on Friday, the Tigers inched past Minnesota and into sixth place all alone in the league standings. They head into Saturday's rematch at DU's Magness Arena needing just a point to reclaim the coveted trophy they surrendered to their arch-rival a year ago.  

CC, which beat a top-five ranked opponent on national television for the second time in eight days, improved to 16-12-1 overall and 10-9 in WCHA play while snapping an eight-game undefeated streak for the Pioneers. Denver, now tied with Minnesota Duluth for second in the league standings, dropped to 16-6-5 overall and 12-4-3 in conference play.

Freshman center Archie Skalbeck and sophomore right wing William Rapuzzi scored just 56 seconds apart in the opening period to put Colorado College in command early. Freshman left wing Alexander Krushelnyski struck for what proved to be the game-winner at 4:29 of the second frame moments after the Tigers successfully killed a penalty.

Freshman winger Jason Zucker helped set up both Denver tallies – one by sophomore center Drew Shore that cut CC's lead to 2-1 early in the middle period and the other by senior center Kyle Ostrow during a power play with 22.1 seconds left in the contest.

Sophomore goaltender Joe Howe finished with 26 saves, half of them in the final 20 minutes of play, as the Tigers completed a season sweep of DU on their home ice. They earlier defeated the Pioneers by a 9-2 count at the World Arena back on Nov. 6.

Adam Murray, also a sophomore, made 29 stops between the pipes for the visitors.