Something must give for the University of Denver hockey team this weekend.
The Pioneers host Wisconsin in a best-of-three playoff series at Magness Arena, and if DU doesn’t win two games – something it hasn’t done against a Western Collegiate Hockey Association opponent since Dec. 15-16 – the Pioneers could be finished for the season.
But don’t bet the ranch on the Badgers, the defending NCAA champions, just yet.
DU has been swept only once this season, Dec. 1-2 by Colorado College, so Wisconsin must buck an even bigger trend to beat the Pioneers twice.
“We haven’t strung a couple games together like we’ve wanted to lately, but (last) weekend was a steppingstone for us,” DU captain Adrian Veideman said. “I think you’re going to see a different team beginning Friday night.”
Veideman was referring to the Pioneers’ wild, 5-5 overtime comeback Saturday night at Colorado College. The Pioneers stormed back from 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 deficits, finally tying it by scoring twice in the final 36 seconds of regulation.
The tie gave DU the one point it needed to finish fourth in the WCHA, a point ahead of CC, and host the seventh-seeded Badgers.
“Darkest hour”
DU went 1-4-2 in its past seven games, but coach George Gwoz- decky said the way the Pioneers ended the regular season Saturday is a great way to begin the playoffs.
“With some of the challenges our team faced over the last few weekends, and to be able to respond at our darkest hour and turn it into our finest moment, was really important,” he said. “Not only am I proud of our resolve, but I believe this team can be a special team.”
Fighting the forecheck
DU has been shut out in its past two games at home (3-0, twice), and Wisconsin also blanked the Pioneers 3-0 on Jan. 6 at Magness Arena.
DU won that series opener 3-1, but Wisconsin outplayed the Pioneers for most of the weekend by using an aggressive forecheck. The Badgers created a bevy of turnovers by not allowing the Pioneers to make an adequate first pass.
“Since that series, I think everybody saw what Wisconsin did and everybody we’ve played has tried to emulate that,” Gwozdecky said. “Because of what Wisconsin did to us is why we’ve worked on it in practice so much and have improved in that area.”
NCAA outlook
DU is 12th in the Pairwise Rankings, dangerously close to missing an at-large berth for the NCAA Tournament.
CC (No. 16 Pairwise) and Air Force (unranked) also begin conference playoffs Friday at home. If CC gets by Michigan Tech and wins a game or two at the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn., the Tigers might get into the 16-team field.
Air Force would have to win the Atlantic Hockey Association playoffs to make it for the first time.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
