COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Omaha hockey team scored four power play goals to storm back for a 5-3 win over Colorado College in its NCHC opener on Friday at Broadmoor World Arena.

David Pope led the way with two goals and an assist while Tyler Vesel had a goal and an assist and both Jake Randolph and Mason Morelli each had two assists.

The Mavericks improved to 4-2-1 overall, winning a series opener for the fourth time in as many tries.  The Tigers dipped to 6-5-0 overall and 2-3-0-0/0 in the conference.

The Tigers build a 2-0 lead with tallies from Jack Gates in the first and Trey Bradley in the second, but they then beat a path to the penalty box.  CC was whistled for six straight minors, giving the Mavericks' power play a chance to ramp up.

Pope opened the scoring at 8:50, hammering home a pass from Randolph.  Jordan Klehr picked up the other assist.

Just 2:38 later, Vesel whipped home a pass from Randolph to tie the game.  Tristan Keck then scored UNO's only even-strength goal of the game, winning a battle along the end boards before bulling his way to the net and roofing the puck over goalie Alex Leclerc to put UNO in the lead.

The Mavericks then made it 4-2 when Steven Spinner crashed the net and slid home the rebound of a shot by Pope for the third power play goal of the period.

The Tigers drew to within one with just 5.8 seconds to go in the period when Halloran converted a turnover for his second goal of the night.

But Pope would restore the two-goal lead on a power play at 8:24 of the third, banging home his own rebound after collecting a pass from Morelli.  It was his team-leading sixth goal of the year.

The Tigers had two late power plays, helping them outshoot the Mavericks 13-9 in the period but couldn't convert.

Evan Weninger made 26 saves to improve to 4-2-0 this season.  Leclerc made 33 saves in the loss.
 
Game two of the series is Saturday at 7:07 p.m. CT.

NOTES:

• The last time the Mavericks scored four power play goals in a game was Nov. 18, 2016 at home against Minnesota Duluth.
• The Mavericks have now won four straight in the all-time series with Colorado College dating back to last year.
• Omaha has scored four or more goals in six of their first seven games.
• With their performance on the power play, the Mavericks moved into the NCAA lead with a success rate of 38.7 percent.

Three stars:  1. David Pope (UNO); 2. Trey Bradley (CC); 3. Jake Randolph (UNO)