Twenty-four hours after one of its most inspired efforts of the season, Colorado College found its tank devoid of fuel on Sunday.

The Tigers came up empty in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series at Minnesota Duluth, dropping an ugly 4-0 decision that slammed the door on their 2009-10 season.

CC finishes with an overall record of 19-17-3 after losing for the seventh time in its last nine outings.

The Bulldogs, meanwhile, take a 22-16-1 mark to the WCHA Final Five later this week in St. Paul, Minn., where they will defend the Broadmoor Trophy as league playoff champions and hope to secure a bid to the NCAA playoffs.

Officiating, along with the visitors' lack of firepower, proved to be factor in Sunday's contest.

Referees Todd Anderson and Brad Shepherd wasted no time setting the tone, sending Colorado College's Matt Overman to the penalty box just six seconds after the opening faceoff. Through the first 40 minutes of play, Anderson and Shepherd whistled a five-minute checking-from-behind major and subsequent game misconduct to a player from each team to go along with 15 minors combined between them.

Duluth didn't actually capitalize on a power play until late in the second period, when Rob Bordson gave his team a 3-0 lead during a five-on-three manpower advantage. By then, even-strength goals by Kyle Schmidt at 2:39 of the first frame and Brady Lamb earlier in the second already had helped the Bulldogs establish command.

When Mike Connolly scored another power-play goal 46 seconds into the third stanza, CC's fate was sealed. It was Minnesota Duluth's sixth PPG of the series.

The Tigers had their share of chances, too, but failed to convert on all seven of their power plays to finish an anemic 1-for-14 in the three-game playoff set. They out-shot UMD by a 9-4 margin during the first period, but seldom tested goaltender Kenny Reiter while finishing with 25 attempts for the game. Reiter did earn his shutout with a point-blank stop on Overman with 5:45 left to play.

Freshman net minder Joe Howe made 18 saves for CC at the other end.