Box Score Box Score

Vermont scored three times in a span of 3:19 and Stefanos Lekkas made 33 saves Friday night as the Catamounts blanked Colorado College, 3-0, in the 2017-18 season opener for both teams in Burlington, Vt.
 
A solid first period for the Tigers was wasted when Ross Colton put Vermont on the board with a power-play goal with just 2.1 seconds left in the period. After CC's Kade Kehoe was whistled for hooking with eight seconds left in the frame, Derek Lodermeier won a faceoff to the left of goalie Alex Leclerc and Ross Colton placed a wrist shot over Leclerc's left shoulder from the top of the circle.
 
Despite trailing 1-0, the Tigers dominated play in the first period and outshot Vermont, 10-8.
 
"We played very well for 19:56 and we lose a draw and they made us pay," head coach Mike Haviland said. "We talked about it all preseason, not giving up goals in the final minute of a period."
 
Vermont added two goals in the first 3:16 of the second period to finish the scoring. Owen Grant sent a shot from the right point that eluded LeClerc and hit just under the crossbar just 51 seconds into the frame, then Christian Evers put home a pass from behind the net by Bryce Misley on the power play to make it 3-0.
 
"We came out a bit slow in the second and we can't give one up in the first minute of a period either," Haviland said.
 
The Tigers had some good looks in the second period, but couldn't get anything past Lekkers, who stopped 16 shots in the frame, including a couple point-blank tries by Westin Michaud and a one-timer by Nick Halloran on the power play in the final minute. The Catamounts also fought off 27 seconds of a 5-on-3 situation early in the second.
 
Colorado College was 0-for-7 on the power play, despite putting 11 shots on Lekkas with a man advantage, while the Catamounts were successful on half of their four chances.
 
"We certainly need to work on our power play, we need to score goals when we have the advantage," Haviland said. "We had a couple of open nets and good looks on the power play, but their goalie made some big saves."
 
The Tigers outshot Vermont, 33-28, with Michaud attempting a team-high five. Halloran and Alex Berardinelli followed with four apiece. Rob Darrar led Vermont with four shots. Leclerc finished the night with 24 saves.
 
Colorado College will look for a split in the series Saturday night as the two teams battle again at 7:05 p.m. (ET).