For two periods of game one of this weekend’s series in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the #2 Denver Pioneers (12-3-0, 2-3-0 NCHC) were outshot and outworked by the #7 Western Michigan Broncos (10-2-1, 6-0-1 NCHC). The Pioneers bounced back for a strong third period but the Broncos’ three goals – one in the final minute of the first period and two less than a minute apart in the middle of the second period – were enough to earn the win and keep the Pioneers’ uncharacteristically cold offense from completing a third-period comeback. Jake Fisher and James Reeder each scored in the third period but it wasn’t enough as the Broncos all but cruised to the 3-2 victory, Denver’s third-straight loss after skating to a 12-0 start to the season.
The Pioneers have scored just two goals in each of their three games since Arizona State ended Denver’s 21-game winning streak two weeks ago. Two of those losses were 3-2 decisions and in the other, an empty-netter sealed the 5-2 victory and the sweep for the Sun Devils. Prior to the home sweep against ASU, the Pioneers scored fewer than four goals in those 12 games just once – in a 3-2 victory at North Dakota.
Denver’s potent offense has gone cold and the losses are slowly starting to pile up.
If there’s a bit of good news here, it’s that Denver’s offense is far too talented to keep putting forth these kinds of efforts so you figure their fortunes will take a turn at some point when they catch fire again. But until then, as the offense goes, so go the Pioneers. And right now, it’s ugly.
Game two starts at 4 pm MT tomorrow afternoon/evening. You can catch the game on NCHC.tv as always.
Whoever put together the non-conf slate of tomato cans this season should be taken behind the woodshed. If you are the best, you need to play the best. Obviously the early season opponents did little to prepare our young warriors for the much tougher NCHC games…
It’s a long season. Much hockey to play. Cool it.
Tough sledding right now for this DU team. I didn’t see any of the series vs ASU, and losing on the road against a tough WMU team isn’t exactly cause for alarm, but clearly this team is skidding a bit after coming out of the gates red hot. Every team is going to face some adversity at some point during the season, and for DU, that time is now. With only 3 games left before the holiday break, the Pios need to regain their momentum. It won’t be easy, though, with another game vs WMU, then CC next weekend.
Some say it’s just a DU offensive slump.
Others say the NCHC is a lot tougher than the non league schedule was.
Some say DU is just flat out getting outworked.
I think it’s all of those things, and also add-in some poor starts, some defensive lapses and Davis suddenly seems more vulnerable on breakaways, too.
I think we’re seeing a DU team that is still very young, and where the team’s flaws were masked by a sizzling 12-0 start.
The Pios can turn this around, but to do so, it means coming out of the chute with fire in their eyes, moving their feet and getting back to outworking other team.