Winning playoff games requires timely goals.

Two players for Colorado College have a knack for those as the Tigers enter this weekend’s series at rival Denver.

Senior Rylan Schwartz has factored in 28 game-winners (20 assists) in his four years as a Tiger. Junior Alexander Krushelnyski is tied for the Division I lead with 21 points (eight goals) in the third period or overtime this season.

Both are enjoying career-best campaigns with Schwartz at 43 points (28 assists) and Krushelnyski 36 (23 assists). Schwartz’s big year was recognized when he was named to the all-Western Collegiate Hockey Association second team Thursday.

Both are clutch performers for the eighth-seeded Tigers (14-17-5) going into the best-of-three WCHA series at 11th-ranked Denver’s Magness Arena.

“You really need those guys this time of year,” said senior captain and former linemate William Rapuzzi. “Defenses really tighten up in the playoffs.”

The linemates go in determined to score the big goal.

“They know they need to step up and be those guys,” linemate Charlie Taft said. “Krusher always wants to go out there and get the game-winner. Rylan knows people look to him to be the go-to guy right now and he has taken it to heart.”

Both are strong enough to squeak through tight spaces to create opportunities. The two have inherited hockey savvy honed by a lifetime on the ice that has both instinctively in the right place at the correct time to make huge plays.

“When I heard he (Krushelnyski) was tied for the lead for late goals, I was surprised, but I shouldn’t be,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “It goes hand in hand with his hockey smarts.”

Krushelnyski’s father Mike, a longtime NHL player, was linemates with Wayne Gretzky in Edmonton and later Los Angeles. Gretzky requested Marty McSorley and Krushelnyski be part of that famed Oilers-Kings trade.

“It’s a combination of experience, instinct inherited from my dad, and maturity,” the junior said. “Playing in every situation and with Rylan definitely helps. When things aren’t going well he and I just keep it simple; put shots on net and get to rebounds.”

Schwartz has 149 career points; 31st all-time at CC. That is impressive in this defense-oriented era. His 95 assists ties him for 19th with Calvin Elfring (1994-98).

“He is that older upperclassman who uses his experience and smarts to get into the right spots,” Owens said. “His shot separates him from others. It says a lot about him that he has almost 150 points nowadays.”

Rylan scored 23 goals as a junior but it is his defense where he made the most strides.

“That was something the coaches were always working on with me,” he said. “I am stronger on the puck but the defensive zone is where I have made the most improvement.”

Neither is afraid to take the shot or do what is necessary to generate an opportunity. It pays off. CC is 8-1-2 this season when Krushelnyski scores. Schwartz has his best games when he plays with a physical edge.

“You see Rylan getting in the dirty areas and scoring the greasy goals,” Rapuzzi said. “Krush loves the chance to step up during those critical minutes.”

Judging from past results, Tiger fans can hope to see plenty more this weekend.

All-WCHA Honors

Colorado College seniors Mike Boivin and Rylan Schwartz were named to the All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association second team. Boivin (28 points) leads all Division I defensemen with 14 goals while Schwartz, a center, has 43 points (28 assists), a career high.

Thirteen Tigers earned All-WCHA academic recognition for maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average or better. An asterisk notes repeat honorees. They are: Jeff Collett, Andrew Hamburg*, Joe Howe*, Alexander Krushelnyski*, Courtney Lockwood, Joe Marciano, Eamonn McDermott*, William Rapuzzi, Rylan Schwartz, Archie Skalbeck*, Peter Stoykewych, Scott Winkler* and Ian Young.  Krushelnyski and McDermott are WCHA Scholar-Athletes by virtue of GPAs of 3.5 or better.

COLORADO COLLEGE’S HOCKEY WEEKEND

No. 8 seed Colorado College (14-17-5) at No. 5 Denver (19-11-5), 7:37 p.m. Friday, 7:07 p.m. Saturday, 7:07 Sunday (if necessary)

Tickets remain available: Go to denverpioneers.com/tickets or call 303-871-2336 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. CC fans typically sit in sections 5, 6 and 7.

Video interview: Check out the Gazette Sports Facebook page for a video interview with CC junior Alexander Krushelnyski previewing this weekend’s series.

Gazette College Hockey blog: For more on the Tigers, including capsules on the other WCHA playoff series, go to blogs.gazettedev.gazette.com/collegehockey

Coaches:  CC – Scott Owens (313-202-48, 14th season); Denver – George Gwozdecky (442-264-64, 19th season)

All-time series: Denver leads 159-112-16, including 11-6 in WCHA playoffs

Top players: CC – Rylan Schwartz, sr., C (15g, 28a); Alexander Krushelnyski, jr., LW (13g, 23a); William Rapuzzi, sr., RW (15g, 19a); Mike Boivin, sr., D (14g, 14a); Scott Winkler, sr., C (13g, 13a); Joe Howe, sr., G (10-10-4, 3.10 goals against, .910 saves percentage).  Denver – Nick Shore, jr. F (13g,17a); Chris Knowlton, sr. F (13g,14a); Joey LaLeggia, soph. D (11g, 18a); David Makowski, soph. D (8g, 17a); Juho Olkinuora, soph. G (12-4-5, 2.16 gaa, .932 saves).

Notes: The Gold Pan Trophy is not up for grabs this weekend. The traveling award is determined by regular-season results only. … There is no TV broadcast. … CC won the two previous best-of-three playoff series against Denver in 1998 (3-2 OT, 6-4) and in 2004 (4-3, 6-1). … The last time Denver and Colorado College met in the WCHA playoffs was in 2005, when the Pioneers defeated the Tigers 1-0 in the Final Five championship game. … CC senior goalie Joe Howe, who recorded his 50th college victory Saturday, is seven saves shy of 3,000, according to revised stats. He is 54 short of tying Eddie Mio (3,047; 1972-76), who is third at CC all-time. Howe, whose season saves percentage has improved to .910, has started 12 straight games for CC and gone 5-4-3. … Denver has Division I’s toughest strength of schedule. CC is second. …  Denver tied with No. 4 seed Wisconsin and No. 6 Minnesota State for fourth place in the WCHA standings before tiebreakers handed it the fifth seed. … Denver is one win shy of posting 20 or more wins for the 12th consecutive season, the longest streak in the nation. …. CC is 19-9-5 at Magness Arena all-time.

JOE PAISLEY, THE GAZETTE