Box Score Box Score | Highlights | Saturday's Game Notes

Alex Leclerc had 33 saves and Cole McCaskill scored the game-winning goal with 2:50 remaining in the third period to lead Colorado College past Western Michigan, 2-1, Friday night at The Broadmoor World Arena.
 
The Tigers trailed 1-0 heading into the third period, but Mason Bergh evened the game at the 9:42 mark with his 16th goal of the season. Trey Bradley gathered the puck in his own end, found Nick Halloran along the left boards and Halloran centered the puck to Bergh, who beat WMU goalie Austin Cain from the high slot. The play snapped a six-game pointless streak for both Bergh and Bradley.
 
Leclerc kept the momentum on CC's side throughout the third period, making 16 saves, then McCaskill scored his second goal of the season to give the Tigers the victory. With the teams playing 4-on-4, Halloran took a pass from Zach Berzolla, skated to the corner and found McCaskill streaking down the slot and he cleanly beat Cain for his second career game-winner.
 
"I think it is huge for everyone in the program and the school," McCaskill said. "(WMU) is a great defensive team. We started to pick it up in the third. The line of (Tanner) Ockey, Kade (Kehoe) and (Westin) Michaud said with their play that this is how we were going to play this period. We definitely noticed. From the net out, everyone stepped it up in the third."
 
After a sluggish first period by the Tigers, including allowing a goal by WMU's Austin Rueschhoff at the 8:13 mark of the first period, Leclerc was outstanding the rest of the way. He made a spectacular save on Hugh McGing during a 2-on-0 rush midway through the second period, then stoned the Broncos several more times from point-blank range in the final 20 minutes.  
 
"We finally got our legs," head coach Mike Haviland said. "I like that we stayed with it and Clarky (Leclerc) was there to make some saves to keep us in it. It wasn't one of the prettiest games all-round for both teams but we found a way (to win). That is the difference with this team. We find a way now."
 
With the victory, the Tigers (14-14-5, 8-11-4-3 NCHC) are tied for fourth place in the NCHC standings with Omaha and North Dakota. Colorado College needs one more point than both of those teams tomorrow night to clinch home ice in the first round of the conference playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
 
"I don't know how sharp we were at the start but we got better as the game went on," Haviland said. "This is huge for us. We have a chance still to continue to move up. There are so many things tomorrow can bring for us. They will be a desperate team and that is how we will have to play too."
              
Western Michigan (14-17-2, 9-13-1-0 NCHC) outshot the Tigers, 34-23, and Cain finished the game with 21 saves. The Tigers were 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Broncos did not capitalize on either of their opportunities with the man advantage.
 
The teams will wrap up the 2017-18 regular season on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m.