Tigers catching a Friday night fever

Perturbed by slow starts in its past two Friday losses, Colorado College responded with high-flying and determined performances on the subsequent Saturday nights, winning each time.

Though encouraged by their ability to respond, the Tigers are hoping for six strong periods this weekend at Alaska-Anchorage.

No. 3 CC is 4-0-1 on Saturdays this season and has averaged 4.4 goals in those five games, as compared with a paltry 1.33 goals in six Friday games to go with a 2-2-2 record.

"It's something we think is an issue," coach Scott Owens said. "We seem to be very slow starting for whatever reason. Even when we skate on the road on Friday mornings, it doesn't seem to matter. At first, we thought it was just a home thing."

At home, the Tigers don't skate before Friday games because of classes.

Right wing Stephen Schultz said his teammates focused on making practices count this week, in hopes that it might rectify the problem.

"We're trying to address it by getting focused in the locker room," he said. "The main thing is everyone getting going, everyone getting up, everyone moving their feet and forcing them to make plays into turnovers."

Tonight could present CC with an opportunity to reverse the trend.

Goaltender Jon Olthuis, who platoons with Bryce Christianson, is expected to be in net.

Olthuis, who backstopped the Seawolves in their win at North Dakota last weekend, is 1-4 all-time against CC, his only win coming nearly two years ago in Colorado Springs. He ranks last among all WCHA goaltenders in goals-against average and save percentage in conference games.

By contrast, the Tigers have never faced Saturday's presumed starter, Christianson, who leads the conference in goals-against average (1.69) and is third in save percentage (.923).

"He's a scrambler-type of goaltender and he's in a real good place right now," Owens said.

History doesn't give many clues to the Tigers' tendencies.

Last season, CC went 16-4-1 on Fridays and 12-7-1 on Saturdays. Two seasons ago, the marks were even at 9-8-2. And three seasons ago, the Tigers were a better Saturday night team, putting together a 13-6-1 record to top the 11-9-1 mark on Fridays.

"I think it's just a fluke," defenseman Brian Connelly said. "But we get really into it on Saturday and we play desperate. I think that's why Saturdays are coming in handy. I think we'll start figuring it out."