DU men’s hockey, reeling after the holiday break, looked to restablish their power play and reignite their confidence Saturday night. Neither happened as another shakey performance resulted in a decisive conference home loss. Denver looked like a cinch for an NCAA Tournament host berth in Loveland with mostly home games and a solid conference record but now, Denver is left fighting for their playoff lives.

Echoing Western Michigans Friday start, Denver’s James Reeder found twine early, 35 seconds into the opening frame. The two teams traded scoring chances when, at the seven minute mark, DU’s Kieran Cebrian was called for interference and WMU’s William Whitelaw made shorthanded Denver pay, 1-1. Seven minutes remained in the period when the Broncos went on the power-play following a Rieger Lorenz hooking call. Denver overcame the penalty, allowing only one shot. The period looked to be a draw when WMU came down ice on the rush in the final minute. It appeared Boston Buckberger was tripped on the rush but no call. In the ensuing chaos, the Broncos Owen Michaels scored on Quentin Miller, 2-1.

The first seven minutes of the second period featured back and fourth hockey. DU’s Ken Anderson was robbed when a sprawling Hampton Slukynsky gloved his slap shot toward a yawning cage. The Broncos quickly countered and Owen Michaels collected his second goal of the night, 3-1. A minute later, WMU’s Iiro Hakkarainen wrapped around the front of Miller and tucked the puck past the right post, 4-1. Denver was in deep trouble midway through the game. With eight minutes left in the brutal period, a shot and carom off Miller was swatted into the goal by Ty Hendricks, 5-1. Miller was pulled for freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks. Denver finally lit the lamp when Kristian Epperson fed Lorenz down low and Lorenz punched the pass into goal, 5-2. Denver buzzed the Broncos cage the rest of the period but the three-goal deficit held.

The final period was a gut check for Denver. Sam Harris was denied on an early scoring look four minutes into the third frame and DU remained scoreless. Denver generated several golden scoring opportunities but Slukynsky made save-after-save. Denver gambled and pulled Hicks with more than 11 minutes remaining. The act of desperation backfired on DU as the Broncos William Whitelaw netted an empty net goal, his second, 6-2. The game held scoreless the balance of the night, 6-2.

We’ve seen a January swoon before but this feels different. This was just one game and one series but there is no doubt, Denver’s first line is struggling to score and the DU power-play is fragile. A home sweep against Denver at Magness Arena is a rarity. The Pioneers will need to bond quickly with a critical road trip to North Dakota next weekend. It’s up to the coaches and players to find some answers before it is too late to have control of their post-season aspirations.