Two games into the season, the University of Denver is playing like the Pioneers of a year ago. Producing goals isn’t a problem, but too many pucks are settling in the DU net.
Last season’s team began with a 5-2 victory over Notre Dame and 6-5 and 7-4 triumphs over Wisconsin. Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky managed to settle that team down, and DU went on to be a pretty good defensive unit with two freshman defensemen.
The same challenge lies ahead for the current squad, which fell from No. 2 to No. 3 in this week’s USA Today poll. The high-flying and defensively challenged Pioneers opened last Friday with a 5-4 victory over Vermont before losing the series finale 6-4.
“To tell you the truth, I can’t remember the beginning of last year, but we’re certainly getting a lot of goals but not playing sound defense,” DU senior center Tyler Ruegsegger said. “From our forwards to our defensive corps, we have to play better.”
The Pioneers are confident that their young defense will tighten up. Their top six defensemen include three freshmen and two sophomores — all NHL draft picks. DU also has proven defensive defensemen in junior Chris Nutini and third-year sophomore John Ryder, who are seventh and eighth on the depth chart.
“It’s a long season, so I don’t think anyone is too disappointed or worried,” DU freshman goalie Adam Murray said. “We know what we have to work on.”
Back to work. The Pioneers returned to practice Monday and will play at Ohio State on Thursday and Friday. The series finale is at Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Every coach will tell you that it’s very beneficial to go on the road early in the year to help develop team chemistry and play against a pretty good program like Ohio State,” Gwozdecky said.
The Buckeyes finished 23-15-4 last season after losing to eventual national champion Boston University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But Ohio State (0-2) is off to an awful start, losing twice to Quinnipiac last weekend in Columbus.
“We couldn’t start any worse,” Buckeyes forward Sergio Somma said after the series. “This is the part where we battle adversity. It’s gut-check time for us. We’ll look in the mirror and then come out (this) weekend and see what we’re made of.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
