Box Score Highlights | Saturday's Game Notes

Colorado College scored two early goals and Jacob Nehama made 31 saves in his first appearance of the season as the Tigers defeated Omaha, 2-1, at Baxter Arena Friday night in the NCHC opener for both teams.
 
The Tigers (3-4, 1-0 NCHC) took advantage of an early Omaha penalty as sophomore Mason Bergh put the puck into an open net just 1:37 into the contest after Teemu Kivihalme's shot from the point was blocked by an Omaha player. The puck went right to Bergh, who was standing at the side of the net. Sophomore Trey Bradley also recorded an assist on the play, his team-leading sixth of the season.
 
Freshman Kade Kehoe then scored the first goal of his career less than two minutes later to put CC ahead 2-0. Senior Sam Rothstein started the play by finding sophomore Cole McCaskill at the point. McCaskill's took a shot and Kehoe deflected the puck from just in front of the crease past Omaha goalie Evan Weninger.
 
"I'm proud of the way we played tonight but we have to come back and do it again tomorrow," Colorado College head coach Mike Haviland said. "We'll enjoy it for about an hour then get back at it."
 
Nehama, meanwhile, was brilliant in his first appearance since recovering from off-season hip surgery. The sophomore from Allen, Texas, made several big saves, including six during Omaha's two power plays.
 
"Jacob was huge for us tonight," Haviland said. "He was hurt the last 10 games of last year and played through it, but he has really worked in the rehab end of it. To come back after that many months off it was a pretty special night for him, he played an extremely good game."
 
The Tigers had struggled in the second period early this season, but they held firm despite getting outshot 12-4 in the frame and continued to lead 2-0 after 40 minutes. 
 
"We have gotten off some great starts this year but then we kind of let down and teams have come back in the second," Haviland said. "I'm proud of the way we responded and Jacob made some big saves in the second. They (Omaha) really picked their game up."
 
The Mavericks (3-3-1, 0-1 NCHC) finally broke through as Austin Ortega scored 40 seconds into the third period with a power-play goal that Nehama let through his legs while being screened by a teammate.

Combined with CC's 4-3 victory at New Hampshire on Oct. 22, the Tigers won consecutive road games for the first time since defeating Denver in the final two games of the first round of the WCHA playoffs on March 16-17, 2013. The Tigers' three road wins are the most in one season since the 2012-13 campaign (seven).
 
Omaha held a 32-19 shots on goal advantage and only seven penalties were called in the game. Each team converted once on the power play (CC was 1-3, Omaha was 1-2).
 
"They have talented players on the power play," Haviland said. "We stayed disciplined and limited their chances. It was nice to see a hard fought game with not many penalties."
 
The teams will square off Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m. (CT).