Christiano Versich scored twice and Colorado College was a perfect 3-for-3 on the power play as the Tigers defeated St. Cloud State, 4-2, Friday night at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
 
Grant Cruikshank added a pair of assists and Matt Vernon stopped 20 shots for the Tigers in their first road game of the season.
 
Nick Halloran opened the scoring with a power-play goal at the 6:40 mark of the first period. After Thomas Rocco was called for hooking, Halloran took a pass from Bryan Yoon, skated into the right circle and put a shot past SCSU goalie David Hrenak just inside the far post for his second goal of the season.
 
The Tigers (3-3-1, 1-1-1 NCHC) doubled the lead when Versich scored a power-play goal of his own just 3:01 into the second period. Cruikshank collected the puck behind the Tiger net and took it the length of the ice before sending a short pass to Versich, who placed a wrist shot over Hrenak's right shoulder for his first tally of the season.
 
Will Hammer put SCSU (2-3-4, 0-1-0 NCHC) on the board at the 7:25 mark of the second when his rebound flipped off Vernon's and over his shoulder into the net.
 
SCSU's Jami Krannila found himself behind everyone and scored on a breakaway at the 13:41 mark of the middle frame to even the score at 2-2.
 
Versich, from nearby Kelly Lake, Minn., scored the game winner at the 10:47 mark of the third period with his second power-play goal of the night. Josiah Slavin found Versich at the right point and his wrist shot snuck past a screened Hrenak, then Slavin put the game away with an empty netter for his first career goal with one minute remaining.
 
The two teams will battle again Saturday night, beginning at 5 p.m. (MT).
 
What Head Coach Mike Haviland Said
"Special teams wins you games and the penalty kill was great tonight."
 
"I am really proud of the guys tonight. We played really well the first 30 minutes, then it turned into a bit of a track meet, but we played a great third period. It was one of our best periods we have played all year."
 
"They are a gritty team and play hard, this was a great test for us. To come into the building and win and get three point is a huge step. If we can bottle the third period and bring it into tomorrow, that will be nice."
 
Three Stars of the Game
1. Christiano Versich, Colorado College (2g, GWG)
2. Will Hammer, St. Cloud State (g)
3. Grant Cruikshank, Colorado College (2a)
 
Colorado College Notes
CC defeated St. Cloud State for the first time since March 4, 2017, snapping a seven-game winless streak against the Huskies
Christiano Versich posted the first multi-goal game of his career
Grant Cruikshank collected the first multi-assist game of his career
Chris Wilkie led all players with six shots
Josiah Slavin posted a career-high four shots
The Tigers scored three power-play goals for the first time since Jan. 19, 2019 at Denver
SCSU's 22 shots were the fewest allowed by the Tigers since 20 by Vermont on Dec. 8, 2018
CC was 3-for-3 on the power play
 
St. Cloud State Notes
Nick Poehling and Jami Krannila led the Huskies with three shots apiece
David Hrenak finished with 29 saves
St. Cloud State was 0-for-2 on the power play
 
Up Next
The Tigers and St. Cloud State play again on Saturday, Nov. 16, beginning at 5 p.m. (MT)