The Pioneers’ performance at St. Cloud featured a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance this past weekend.

On the one hand, Denver lost an overtime game  to the NCHC-rival Huskies in which it allowed the most shots it had all season (43). One night later, DU bounced back for a 3-1 victory.

Here are some pluses and minuses and the weekend’s three stars:

Plus

The Pioneers bounced back in convincing fashion, locking down one of the conference’s better offensive teams. The defense played a huge role in that. “I thought our D core played possibly their worst game of the year (Friday) night since the first weekend at least, and they really responded with a great effort tonight,” coach Jim Montgomery said after Saturday’s game. “It’s hard to contain a team like St. Cloud to one goal, and it’s hard to take away time and space on this expansive ice sheet.”

Minus

For some reason the Pioneers again struggled with a Friday night road game, whether it was focus, effort, puck luck, whatever, it just didn’t seem to be there, and it added pressure on Saturday.

Plus

DU salvaged a road split in a place it’s not easy to win at. Montgomery and many of his coaching peers will tell you a road split in a conference as tough as the NCHC is not a horrible thing IF you can sweep your home series.

Minus

The Pioneers have just two home series left (Omaha this weekend and St. Cloud next month) and a home-and-home with Colorado College. They have to travel to Miami, which gave them fits at Magness Arena before finishing the season at Omaha, where they swept a year ago and started their second half tidal wave.

Plus

Dylan Gambrell scored a goal for the first time in 10 games. The sophomore adds so much in so many phases of the game it can be easy to overlook the fact he is a supremely gifted offensive talent. With Troy Terry out, possibly through the end of the regular season, the Pioneers will need Gambrell to turn on the red light more than a few times.

Minus

The offense remained a bit inconsistent. Look at the totals the past four weekends: three goals (at Providence), 11 (vs. Arizona State), seven (all in one game after a bagel vs. Western Michigan) and five (at St. Cloud State).

Three stars

1. Dylan Gambrell. The sophomore tied the score on Saturday and may have been the Pioneers’ best player. He added an assist on Henrik Borgstrom’s goal Friday.
2. Tanner Jaillet. Despite being pulled after two periods Friday, he finished the weekend with 65 saves and only three goals allowed.
3. The defense. One night after giving up 43 shots, the group rebounded in a big way Saturday. As a bonus, freshman Michael Davies scored a clinching goal with the first assist from Adam Plant.

Honorable mention: Liam Finlay, the freshman went for a goal Friday and had an assist Saturday, and was plus-2 for the weekend. An offensive awakening by the skilled newcomer would be a massive help for DU.