Chris Wilkie scored twice and set up the game-winning goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third period to lead Colorado College to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Minnesota in the season opener Friday night at the Broadmoor World Arena.
 
Wilkie, who clanged three shots off the pipe, including two in the first five minutes, finally broke through to tie the score at 1-1 at the 9:10 mark of the third period. He took a pass from Ben Copeland and ripped a shot from the top of the left circle past Minnesota goalie Jack LaFontaine.
 
The Gophers retook the lead at the 11:03 mark when Scott Reedy found the puck in the crease and slid it past Tiger goalie Ryan Ruck, but Wilkie struck again 10 seconds later with a another snipe from the left circle after a perfect pass from Nick Halloran, who assisted on all three goals.
 
A tripping call against Reedy later in the period put CC on the power play, and just three seconds after the penalty expired, Wilkie sent a pass through the crease and Copeland touched it past LaFontaine for the game winner.
 
Wilkie came close to his first career hat trick, but he fired just wide from the slot with LaFontaine on the bench in the final minute.
 
Ruck, who gave up the game's first goal to Tyler Nanne just 1:53 into the contest, kept the Tigers in it with 28 saves, including a beautiful kick save on Sampo Ranta midway through the first to keep it a 1-0 Gopher lead.
 
The Tigers had plenty of chances to tie it in the first 50 minutes, including a breakaway by Halloran that LaFontaine saved at the 6:23 mark of the second period, and Copeland sailed a shot just wide off a 2-on-1 with Halloran about a minute before Wilkie scored midway through the third period.
 
What Head Coach Mike Haviland Said:
"That was a great hockey game for 60 minutes. It was a great character win for us."
 
"(Wilkie) didn't hang his head early, that (first goal) was an NHL shot."
 
"This was a very entertaining game for both sides."
 
"Their goalie played well and I thought Rucker was really good in the net too."
 
What Chris Wilkie Said:
"Obviously I would have liked to have the third one but we got the win so that's all that matters. I would have been kicking myself if they had gone down there and scored but it worked out."
 
"We were playing a good game right from the start. It was just staying with it and keeping pucks going on net."
 
Three Stars of the Game
1. Chris Wilkie, Colorado College (2g,1a)
2. Nick Halloran, Colorado College (3a)
3. Ben Copeland, Colorado College (GWG)
 
Colorado College Notes
Halloran tied his career high with three assists
Grant Cruikshank led the Tigers with a career-high six shots on goal
The line of Wilkie, Halloran and Copeland produced eight points (3g,5a)
Bryan Yoon had a team-high three blocked shots
Wilkie led all players with 10 total shots (five on goal)
The Tigers were 1-for-5 on the power play
 
Minnesota Notes
LaFontaine finished the game with 28 saves
Brannon McManus led the Gophers with six shots
Minnesota was 0-for-2 on the power play
 
Up Next
The two teams play again on Saturday, Oct. 12, beginning at 7 p.m., at the Broadmoor World Arena