Recap: Pioneers sweep weekend against Badgers

The DU Pioneers remain undefeated.

Denver, CO — The University of Denver Pioneers came into this weekend hot, riding a four game win streak. This week they battled their old WCNA rival, the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers went out on their first road trip on a bit of slide, starting the season with a meager 1–3 record. After a 4-2 Pioneers victory on Friday night Denver came into tonight undefeated and ranked number one in the nation. So if anyone was going to have trouble in this rematch, it was going to be the Badgers.

First Period

The rival did not slow from the barn burner last night. Jack Devine (FLA) came out with a mission, to get his first tally of the year. He crashed the net without results, but the pressure was strong. Jake Fisher (COL) would head to the box early in the period for a tripping penalty that was a little questionable. On the ensuing power play for the Badgers, Quinn Finley (NYI) would easily one time a shot past a diving Matt Davis. But it would not take long for the Pioneers to strike back. Less than two minutes later, Aidan Thompson (CHI) would center a pass to Devine in the low slot for his first goal of the season and to tie it at one apiece.

Three minutes later, Samu Salminen (NJD) took the puck off the near-side wall and centered it for Connor Caponi as he slid down the slot. The Pioneers would lead 2–1 at this point. It grew into a physical game as both sides exchanged hits. With just under two minutes left in the first, Denver brought the puck into the Wisconsin zone. They passed around the perimeter with a quick pass from Devine to Thompson. Carter King worked down to the crease and took a quick pass from Thompson to tap it into the back of the net and make it 3–1.

“They’re so gifted,” King said. “They’re playing with their eyes up the entire time, looking for each other, helping each other, and I’m able to do what I can to support them, but they have a lot of talent, a lot of skill, and they’re so fun to play with.”

Second Period

The period grew into a battle of attrition to see who would break first. It was not until four minutes remained in the period that Kyle Kukkonen (ANA) would take a penalty for Wisconsin to set up Denver for their first power play chance. The Pioneers would not score, but not long after it expired they used the momentum to their advantage. Denver ran into the Badger zone to set up a game of catch between Boston Buckberger and Eric Pohlkamp (SJS). Buckberger sent it to Salminen in the right faceoff circle and put the Pioneers up 4–1. With just 15 seconds left in the second, Fisher fired off a shot from one knee to bury the puck on the power play and make it 5–1.

“He’s (Fisher) moving his feet, confident, moving his feet with and without the puck,” Denver head coach David Carle said of the Colorado Avalanche prospect. “I think he’s a big kid. He’s thick, makes him hard to handle, and there’s a lot of confidence there.”

Third Period

The last frame would start with the Pioneers and their guns blazing. They would not allow Wisconsin into their own end for almost the first four minutes of the period. Denver had just completely shut down the neutral zone. Just under five minutes into the period, Denver would put the nail in the coffin and score their last goal of the evening. Sam Harris (MTL) would walk in from the left point and snap it past goaltender William Gramm. With that, Denver secured their 6-1 final.

Takeaways

Based on just tonight, Wisconsin is not a team that should not be in the ranked 20th in the nation at all. That, or Denver, is just that good. The Pioneers are a speedy team that can shut down the neutral zone and pounce on loose pucks quickly. Defensively they do not give the other team much room to move all. If they can continue to play like this, Denver may just add another championship season under their belt.

Upcoming

The Pioneers travel to New Haven, CT this week for a Friday/Saturday series against Yale.