Disaster strikes in 2nd period for CC

Richard Bachman was stopping everything in sight. Stephen Schultz was making the most of an opportunity to skate on the top line. Chad Rau was continuing his tear.

Then came Colorado College's worst stretch of the season, as a momentum-building victory transformed into a demoralizing defeat.

Minnesota-Duluth scored five times Saturday in the second period, including two power-play goals and a short-handed tally, thrashing No. 6 CC 7-4 before an announced crowd of 6,275 at World Arena.

Drew O'Connell replaced Bachman in net in the third, the second time in four games the Highlands Ranch native has been yanked for giving up four-plus goals. Bachman has given up 27 goals in his past nine starts.

Alex Stalock made 39 saves to give Duluth (7-4-5, 4-4-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) its first win over CC (9-5-4, 6-4-2) in seven games. Eleven of his saves were against a power play that converted one of six chances.

"If we would have won, we would be in first place in the WCHA," said CC coach Scott Owens, whose team is fourth, two points behind Wisconsin and one point behind No. 2 Minnesota and No. 7 Denver.

The Tigers took a 2-0 edge in the second on goals from Schultz, playing because Scott McCulloch is sidelined until January with a sprained left knee, and Rau, who leads the team with 10 goals and 24 points.

Duluth pulled within 2-1 when Jordan Fulton scored 19 seconds after Rau's tally and tied the score 3 minutes later on Justin Fontaine's power-play goal, set up by a Kris Fredheim slashing penalty.

After Schultz put CC on top 3-2 with 12:09 left in the period, Mike Testwuide was penalized for kneeing, Ryan Lowery was ejected for checking MacGregor Sharp from behind and the floodgates opened.

Evan Oberg beat Bachman low to the stick side from the left circle during a 5-on-3 advantage before Sharp scored an even-strength goal and Nick Kemp registered a short-handed goal when Bachman couldn't control a rebound.

Owens disputed referee Max Battimo's whistle on Lowery.

"He felt the way it's mandated and written up that he has to call that," Owens said. "We're already a man short, so we shouldn't be finishing our checks that way. That was his call. I was a little surprised, but he called it by the book."

Schultz didn't pin the blame on Bachman.

"It's not his fault," Schultz said. "It's the team's fault. You can't go out and blame one guy. Everyone is accountable."