Cole Koepke and Scott Perunovich each had a goal and an assist and Hunter Shepard made 20 saves as No. 5 Minnesota Duluth defeated Colorado College, 4-2, Friday night at the Broadmoor World Arena.

After falling behind 2-0, the Tigers stormed back and evened the game midway through the second period, but the two-time defending national champions scored a power-play goal during a 5-minute major late in the middle frame and held on through the third period. 
 
Koepke opened the scoring at the 3:38 mark of the first period. Justin Richards won a draw back to Koepke, whose shot from the top of the right circle hit CC goalie Matt Vernon's shoulder and trickled behind him past the goal line.
 
Tanner Laderoute made it 2-0 at 13:08 of the first after putting home a rebound in front after Vernon saved a shot by Koepke.
 
The Tigers cut the lead in half two minutes later when Chris Wilkie scored his NCHC-leading 21^st goal of the season. Wilkie took a touch pass from Alex Berardinelli just outside the blue line, moved towards the slot and fired a wrist shot that cleanly beat Shepard at the 15:08 mark.
 
Jack Gates evened things up at 2-2 with his third goal of the season at the 13:22 mark of the second period. Andrew Gaus wheeled around to the top of the slot and put a shot on net that Gates deflected past Shepard while cutting just in front of the crease.
 
With 3:18 remaining in the second period, Wilkie was called for a 5-minute interference penalty and ejected from the game. The Bulldogs took advantage as Dylan Samberg scored the eventual game-winning goal from the top of the right circle at the 17:41 mark for a 3-2 lead.
 
Perunovich closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal at the 18:47 mark of the third period.
 
What Head Coach Mike Haviland Said
"We have to be smarter too. That's the third time we have taken a major against them and they made us pay." 
 
On the third period
"I thought we were coming and we had some chances. We had the push that we needed. We just didn't get the third one. When you are that close against the No. 5 team in the country, you have to find a way to score there."
 
Colorado College Notes
Chris Wilkie led the Tigers with five shots
McKay Flanagan tied his career high with a +2
Connor Mayer tied his career high with five blocked shots
Sam Renlund blocked a career-high three shots
Matt Vernon finished with 35 saves, the most since Jan. 17 (37 at Western Michigan.
Minnesota Duluth outshot the Tigers, 39-22
CC was 0-1 on the power play, UMD was 1-3
 
Up Next
The Tigers and Minnesota Duluth wrap up their two-game series at the Broadmoor World Arena on Saturday, Feb. 29, beginning at 6 p.m.