It was a strong start for the #9 Denver Pioneers (13-11-2, 9-6-0 NCHC) as they tallied the game’s first two goals over the 21-and-a-half minutes, but apparently, that’s also when they thought their series-opening game against the St. Cloud State Huskies (13-12-0, 6-9-0 NCHC) ended. The Huskies scored four-straight goals, including an empty-netter with 1:11 left, to ice the game and deliver the Pioneers their 6th home loss in 12 contests in a wildly underwhelming and disappointing season.
Cale Ashcroft and Kristian Epperson recorded the goals for the Pioneers, and since the Pioneers decided to only put forth a one-third effort tonight, it seems only fair that this recap mirrors the effort. So here ends the recap, and a screenshot of the box score is below:
Denver and St. Cloud go at it again tomorrow night as the Pioneers look to earn another split with a Saturday victory. Puck drops at Magness Arena at 6pm.
Top photo courtesy of DU Athletics
Pios have had trouble scoring, no doubt. Still, fun game to watch. We’re playing hard, just not putting it all together yet.
Ugh!!!!!
I need to go to bed and think about how to maintain some optimism. Lots of thoughts about how / why this isn’t going well
So disappointing. Looking like an invite to the NCAA tournament may only come via winning the conference tournament this season.
Running out of runway! LFG PIOS!
Losing record at Magness Arena??
Nick summed it up well. Pios had a good start and a good first period. From then on, there wasn’t much to cheer about. That’s a very disappointing loss on home ice. Full credit to the Huskies, though—they were opportunistic, Shostak played well (except, perhaps, for the 1st goal he let in), they took advantage of DU’s defensive lapses, and deserved the W.
DU’s defensive breakdowns were especially galling. I don’t know what the hell was going on during that first goal by the Huskies, but the Pios were sprawled out all over the ice around Miller, couldn’t find the puck, and couldn’t even come close to getting a clear. It looked like a bunch of 1st graders at recess. Meanwhile, the Huskies were buzzing everywhere, getting to all of the loose pucks, and generating several quality scoring chances. Gross eventually found himself wide open in the slot, gets the pass, and fires it into an open net, as Miller was trying to figure where the puck was and where his stick was. It was a clown show. On the second goal, Thoreson skates right in on Miller unimpeded and makes an uncontested pass to a wide open Miettinen who taps it into a wide open net. My grandma could have scored on that play. Not a good shift by the Burrows line. And on the 3rd goal Thoreson is left open off the rush and rifles a shot over Miller’s shoulder.
Obviously, there’s a lot to clean up if DU wants to avoid being swept on home ice again.
I found it interesting that there were no post-game comments or interviews available from any of the players (or Carle) on the website, unless I missed something. Coincidence? Or was that by design after a lousy performance at home?
I don’t know how long DU will be a top-tier competitor. Not because the coaching isn’t great and the athletes working hard. But as LGDU has pointed out before, we don’t have the NIL money to pay players the way Michigan, Penn State, BC, ND, and others do. I don’t blame an 18- or 19-year-old for taking a check to play, it’s his knees on the line, not mine, he may never go pro. But it’s a sad reality. In the end, nobody is looking out for you but you. Maybe the end of the competitive mid-major across all sports.