Ty Hanson scored with 2:56 remaining in the third period, lifting No. 7 Minnesota Duluth to a 1-0 victory over No. 9 Colorado College on Friday night in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference opener for both teams.
The top-10 matchup at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was decided by a rebound. Hanson drove toward the net at 17:04 of the third period and tried a backhanded shot. After Colorado College goaltender Jackson Unger stopped the initial attempt with his blocker, Hanson collected the rebound and lifted it over Unger’s shoulder.
Defense controls the game
The goal was Hanson’s second in as many games and his fourth over Minnesota Duluth’s last three games. The junior defenseman now has eight goals this season, which ranks second nationally. He has scored seven goals in his last six games.
Goaltender Carl Axelsson made the lead stand. He stopped all 20 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season, the most in the NCAA. Minnesota Duluth has recorded shutouts in consecutive games and has allowed only one goal across its last three games.
- Both teams finished with 20 shots on goal.
- Minnesota Duluth did not take a penalty.
- Colorado College held a 34-19 advantage on faceoffs.
The Bulldogs moved to 6-1-2 overall and 1-0-0 in NCHC play. The Tigers fell to 5-2-0 overall and 0-1-0 in the conference.
Rematch scheduled for Saturday
The teams will play again Saturday night at Ed Robson Arena. The puck is scheduled to drop at 8 p.m. Central time. The second game will give both teams another conference meeting less than 24 hours after Minnesota Duluth opened league play with the one-goal win.
