Johnson powers Tigers past Michigan Tech
Sophomore's two goals fuel 4-1 CC victory
Athletic Media Relations

Thanks in no small measure to Tyler Johnson, Colorado College rediscovered what a successful weekend is all about on Saturday.

The sophomore center struck for a pair of goals in a 4-1 victory over Michigan Tech that allowed the Tigers to escape Copper Country with three points and maintain their hold on fourth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Johnson’s first tally, off a feed from Scott McCulloch, came at 15:35 of the opening period after Chad Rau had struck at the 8:29 mark to stake the visitors to an early lead. Both Rau’s goal and Johnson’s game winner came during power plays.

Johnson, who like Rau also scored the night before, added his third red lighter of the series early in the third period to put CC up 4-0. He was named Winter Carnival MVP after doing more than his share to spoil the Huskies’ annual festivities.

With the triumph, which came on the heels of a 2-2 tie in Friday’s series opener, Colorado College improved to 14-9-7 overall and 10-8-4 in the WCHA.

Sophomore net minder Richard Bachman, who finished with 27 saves, lost his shutout with 8:28 left to play when Tech defenseman Deron Cousens beat him on a one-timer with a pair of Tigers sitting in the penalty box. It was the second five-on-three goal of the series for Cousens, as CC allowed a power-play goal for the eighth consecutive game.

In between Johnson’s goals, Cody Lampl picked up his own rebound to score at 3:08 of the middle frame.

By beating MTU in Houghton, Mich., for the first time since the 2004-05 campaign, the Tigers snapped a three-game winless streak and pulled to within a point of third-place North Dakota in the WCHA standings.

Colorado College won its first weekend series in league play since tying and defeating Denver back on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.