The University of Denver hockey team heads into its holiday break at 7-7-2 and 3-4-1 in the NCHC, and the No. 17 Pioneers have provided their fans with signs for both optimism for and concern about the rest of the season.

Over the next two weeks I’ll break down what’s gone well, what could go better and try to offer a realistic look at what to expect in games 17-34 (NCHC and NCAA playoff games will be in addition to that). I’ll start with an overview of DU’s season to this point.

The Pioneers entered the 2015-16 season needing to replace seven seniors, nearly all of whom played big roles on a team that went 24-14-2 overall and 13-10-1 in NCHC play. The departures included five players who already have seen time in the American Hockey league – defensemen Josiah Didier and Joey LaLeggia and forwards Daniel Doremus, Zac Larraza and Ty Loney. Other departures included forwards Larkin Jacobson and Matt Tabrum. The electric LaLeggia’s 40 points were third most on the team and Doremus’ 34 were fourth, AND he centered the top two scorers – Danton Heinen (45) and Trevor Moore (44 and an NCHC-best 22 goals). Didier was a blunt force instrument on the blue line, and Larraza (20 points) and Loney (16) were versatile players who each hit double figures in goals. And Jacobson and Tabrum teamed with captain Grant Arnold to form a sledgehammer-like fourth line. Despite finishing fourth in the NCHC, the group very nearly knocked off eventual NCAA champion Providence College in the final eight of the NCAA Tournament.

In light of those losses, it’s fair to say few knew exactly what to expect this season. What we’ve gotten is a Pioneers team that, when it plays its best and sustains that play, can skate with just about any team and has enough scoring depth to make life difficult on opponents. The goaltending, thought to be a huge strength coming into the season, has oscillated a bit and at times cost DU (Saturday night comes to mind). Yet the net-minding tag team offers the potential to be very good (Two shutouts – Tanner Jaillet – vs. Michigan State – and Evan Cowley -at Minnesota-Dulth).

It’s also a team that has been prone to streaks, as one might expect from a lineup that consistently has played at least five freshmen and sometimes six. After an opening-night loss at Air Force, the Pioneers rattled off three straight wins at home. Two heart-breaking losses in Boston preceded a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2), then 2015 ended with a four-game slide that saw the Pios get outscored 20-5 by two of the top five teams in the nation – North Dakota and St. Cloud State. Prior to the past two weekends, the Pioneers had not lost by more than a goal, including against No. 4 Boston College and No. 11 Boston University, a sign that they’d been in every game despite a youthful lineup. And lest skeptics think they can’t score against better teams, they put up seven goals in two road games in Boston

Befitting a team with a .500 record, they’re even in goals scored and goals allowed (47), a number that is skewed by the recent losses. Remarkably, their shots on goal – for and against – are exactly the same as well – 471.

Assuming the Pioneers have to hit 20 wins to make the NCAA field again, that means they will need to win 13 of their next 18 games to reach that plateau. It’s not impossible, but they have rematches against No. 2. North Dakota and No. 19 UMD at home and home and road series against No. 6 Nebraska-Omaha yet to come. In addition, the Pioneers celebrate New Year’s weekend with No. 16 Notre Dame. So 10 of the 18 games are against teams ranked above (or in Duluth’s case) or near them.

And the schedule itself was a bit quirky in the first half. Only six of their 16 games were at home – none between Nov. 7 and Dec. 11. There also have been two off weeks already – before the trips to Boston and North Dakota, neither of which went well. A second-half schedule that features five consecutive series, a week off, then four more to close out the regular season should, in theory, help the Pioneers find some rhythm.

In an upcoming post, I’ll take a closer look at  10 areas I think are pluses and minuses so far.

If you get antsy, poke around the website. Coach Jim Montgomery has been very gracious to offer “2 minutes” when time allows, and many of the players have had fun with the series of “one-timers” questions we ask them periodically.

@MagnessMayhem