No. 1 Denver (1-0-1) vs. Lake Superior State (1-2-1)

Friday and Saturday: 7:05 p.m. MDT both nights at Magness Arena

Radio: 1600 AM

TV: Friday, Altitude; Saturday, Altitude2

Series: The teams have met just two times, with DU winning both meetings (in 1998 and 2010).

Overall

For the first time in 12 years the Pioneers will have a pregame ceremony to raise a national championship banner. The 2017 banner will have plenty of company in the rafters, joining the Pioneers’ previous seven above the Magness Arena ice. … After a Week 1 bye, DU hit the ground running, taking three of four points at then No. 4 Notre Dame. Henrik Borgstrom had two goals in the opening tie, and Troy Terry, Dylan Gambrell and Logan O’Connor each had two points in the 4-2 Saturday victory, punctuated by Liam Finlay’s winning goal after the Irish had erased a 2-0 deficit in 24 seconds. …

Denver update

Captain Tariq Hammond is practicing with the Pioneers during the non-contact portion of their workouts. His rehab is going well and it’s now a matter of continuing to rebuild strength and flexibility in his twice-operated on ankle. … One of Hammond’s blue-line tag-team partners, Adam Plant is fourth among active NCAA players in games played (124). One-time DU recruit Landon Smith of Quinnipiac and Greenwood Village is third (125). … Early returns on the Pioneers’ freshmen class have been promising, with defenseman Ian Mitchell (who was teamed with fellow Blackhawks draft pick Blake Hillman last weekend) and Griffin Mendel (paired with sophomore Erich Fear) acquitting themselves well vs. the high-scoring Irish. Forwards Jake Durflinger (goal), Ryan Barrow and Jack Doremus (assist each) all had a point vs. the Irish. … Goaltender Tanner Jaillet picked right up where he left off last season, holding Notre Dame to two goals in each game and stopping 93.5 percent of the Irish shots on goal. Could Saturday night see freshman reserve Dayton Rasmussen make his NCAA debut? Coach Jim Montgomery addressed that, among other things, in our first Take 2 with Monty of the season.

Alumni update

Will Butcher, last season’s captain … and Hobey Baker winner … and Dawg Nation tournament champ (but I digress), has made about as strong of a first impression as one can in the NHL. He’s the first player in NHL history to record at least eight assists in his first five career games. How exactly is that he isn’t playing home games in downtown Denver this season again?

Lake State update

The Lakers dropped three of four points at home last weekend to No. 13/15 Michigan Tech, backstopped by former DU goalie Packy Munson. … Lake State thrives on the power play and has six extra-man goals through four games. The Lakers have 11 goals overall. … Senior forward J.T. Henke has a team-best six points so far, followed by junior Anthony Nellis with three goals among his four points. Henke was selected the WCHA’s offensive player of the week after his five-point outburst vs. Tech. Those two and sophomore Max Humitz have four of Lake State’s six power-play goals. … The Lakers have a good mix of veterans and younger players as nine upperclassmen and nine freshmen and sophomores have been in the lineup most nights so far. … Junior Nick Kossoff has played in three of four games in goal (1-2, 3.37 gaa, .894 save percentage) but freshman Mareks Mitens played well in a 2-2 with Michigan Tech, making 40 saves.

How it could go down

The Lakers better hope DU basks in the glow of the banner ceremony too long or takes a lot of penalties, both of which would provide opportunities to jump out to an early lead. The Lakers seem to have plenty of firepower. That said, I expect the Pioneers to be flying Friday, and if they parlay the energy that undoubtedly will be in the building into performance, they have a great chance of sweeping.

Follow @MagnessMayhem on Twitter for Denver hockey updates all weekend