The eighth-ranked Pioneers (18-8-5, 14-5-2 NCHC) look to continue their torrid second half (10-1-3) during their final regular-season road trip – to Kalamazoo, Mich., to take on Western Michigan (8-19-3, 5-14-1 NCHC) on Friday and Saturday.

Overview: This is the teams’ second series of the season, and if things broke right for DU it also could be a preview of a first-round NCHC series in two weeks. In order for that to happen, however, DU would need to catch either St. Cloud State or North Dakota for second place to match up against the Broncos, who are four points ahead of Colorado College for seventh place after a split against Miami last weekend. WMU is eight points behind a trio of teams for sixth, making that leap unlikely. For all of Western’s struggles, they’re solid (7-5-1) at home.

Previous series: DU defeated WMU, 5-3, before the teams tied, 2-2, (WMU won in 3-on-3 OT) last month at Magness Arena. Co-captain Sheldon Dries scored twice for the Broncos while Quentin Shore also found the back of the net twice for DU in the first game. WMU goaltender Lukas Hafner made 49 saves in the tie, a game in which DU led 2-0 until halfway through the third period. Matt Marcinew had a goal in each game for the Pioneers.

WMU offensive outlook: Freshman forward Griffen Molino had a hat trick in Saturday’s win against Miami – scoring three different ways – power play, shorthanded and even strength. His 21 points leads the Broncos. Dries, a junior, has 15, and 10 goals – same as Molino. Co-captain Nolan LaPorte , Frederik Tiffels and freshman Colt Conrad have 13 points each. Western struggles to score, averaging 2.27 goals per game overall (50th nationally) and 2.45 in NCHC games (sixth). While they average 29 shots per game, they allow nearly 35. … Overcoming deficits has been a problem. The only time in 15 games the Broncos have gotten a point when trailing after two periods was the tie against DU.

WMU defensive outlook: Freshman Trevor Gorsuch emerged as a goaltending option for the Broncos this past weekend again Miami, relieving  Hafner in a 4-1 loss Friday after Hafner gave up four goals on 28 shots. Gorsuch stopped all six shots he faced in relief, then made 30 saves in a 4-1 WMU victory Saturday. Should Coach Andy Murray go back to Hafner, the senior has a 3.43 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. … The Broncos allow an NCHC-high 4.05 goals per game. Overall, they give up 3.73 (55th nationally).

WMU special teams outlook: The Broncos are at the bottom of the conference in both power play (13.6 percent, 17.4 overall) and penalty killing (65.2 and 70.8 overall – worst in Division I). As DU’s power play has begun heating up (19.7 NCHC), it’s penalty kill has leveled off slightly (83.9). Still, both are in the top half of the league, and they will be especially important on the road.

The last word: One could make the case that DU’s weakest series of the second half so far was against the big, physical Broncos. With an outside shot at moving up the NCHC standings and their eyes on improving their No. 8 ranking in PairWise, it’s hard to imagine the Pioneers letting up against a team it should beat twice. Still, WMU is tough at home and DU is 7-6-2 on the road (though 4-1 in the second half). It might not be the walkover the statistics suggest it could be.