#3 Denver hockey (22-8-1, 15-6-0) went 0-5 on the power play while Omaha buried 2 of 5 extra-man opportunities en route to a 5-1 loss at Baxter Arena. Denver trailed 3-0 exiting the first period after allowing two power play goals, a problem for Denver all season long. Ryan Barrow scored Denver’s lone goal early in the third period. Magnus Chrona gave up 4 goals on 22 shots. Omaha scored an empty-net goal to end the game.
Head Coach David Carle stated after the game, “We did not start the game with the competitiveness you need for success….that’s unacceptable this time of year. The effort level needs to be better.”
Denver will try to improve on Friday night’s effort and earn a split tonight at 6:00 pm MT.
A fellow alum told me this a few days ago: “I remember Gwoz saying NCAA is a goaltender tournament. I trust in Gwoz.” The only thing consistent in DU’s goal tending is that it is inconsistent. The same can be said about our PK. Maybe it’s time to think about changing up goal tenders.
Very disappointing. Pios have now lost 3 of their last 4 and aren’t exactly building momentum as the postseason quickly approaches. In those 3 losses the Pios have given up 14 goals, and the special teams continue to be an issue. I’m feeling a bit uneasy right now.
UND, on the other hand, has a lot of momentum.
Chrona is like a box of chocolates….3-0 give Chrona the hook or do they let him find his game? Get Davis some work or do they have that little faith in Davis?
an inconsistent goalie does not get a team far in tournament play.
This may have been the worst game for the Pios since the tie with Alaska.
The passing was off, the shooting was off, the defense was off, and the goaltending was abhorrent.
As I watch from afar, my hopes for a deep run into the NCAAs are being dashed.
It has become clear the poor starts, inconsistent goaltending and a bottom 20% PK are self-inflicted wounds that may well derail an otherwise promising season.
As fans we can all see it with our own eyes, and obviously, the coaches can see it, too.
Are these fixable? Perhaps. The poor start speaks to motivation. The captains and coaches need to up the effort level.
The inconsistent goaltending? Now would be the time to see if Davis or Caruso can stop the bleeding of soft goals that threaten to suffocate the season. Or see if Chrona can right himself.
The PK issue needs expert diagnosis. With the the high level of talent DU has, it should NOT be a 75% PK at this point in the season. If DU’s coaches can’t solve the issue, perhaps it’s time they asked some NHL coaches for advice on structure and personnel. It’s also connected to fixing the goaltending.
Go Pios!
Swami- your goaltender is your best penalty killer right 😉 ?