If Friday night’s 5-2 victory is any indication, NCHC play won’t be too big for a youthful Denver team.

The No. 7 Pioneers’ speed and skill was on display in full form as they consistently beat Western Michigan to loose pucks, more so as the game went along, and created room to generate scoring chances.

A quartet of veterans was responsible for the bulk of DU’s offense – led by senior Jarid Lukosevicius, who scored his second career hat trick. The first came in DU’s 2017 national title triumph.

Juniors Liam Finlay and Michael Davies added a goal and an assist, and sophomore defenseman Ian Mitchell had primary assists on Lukosevicius’ second and third goals.

How they did it

That Western Michigan (3-4, 0-1 NCHC) would bring plenty of pressure was no surprise to the Pioneers (4-0-1, 1-0. But DU did a better job as the game went along of protecting the puck, and that triggered an outburst that saw the Pioneers score four of the final five goals, including three in the second period.

“They’re a fast team,” DU coach David Carle said. “It wasn’t their best game tonight. We certainly are going to expect them to come with a better effort, to play with more pace tomorrow night.”

The blueprint for combatting the Broncos’ pressure on Friday was easy to say, tougher to do.

“We want to protect pucks, we want to hang on to pucks,” Carle noted. “Liam Finlay showed our team what can happen when you do that. In the first period Colin Staub cuts back, someone else comes to him and Ian Mitchell ends up wide open where (Ben) Blacker makes a great save (one of his 24).”

Finlay, who earlier in the second period initiated a play that Davies scored on, cut back through the Broncos zone and snapped a shot into the top left corner to make it 4-2 with 5:35 to go in the period.

“(Last season) I didn’t shoot the puck nearly enough, I wasn’t looking to shoot,” Finlay said of his more aggressive mindset. “I wasn’t attacking enough. I’m doing it now and it’s paid off so far.”

Scoring race?

The tally was Finlay’s sixth in five games, but Lukosevicius, who was around the puck all night, is hot on his heels after potting Nos. 3, 4 and 5 – one in each period Friday.

“Every shift you know what you’re getting out of him,” Carle said. “We’ve talked about it a lot. He’s really embraced and relished his role as a leader, as has Colin Staub and these older guys. This isn’t a rebuilding year for them.

“We want to get after it every night, and I think Luko has done a great job leading by example.”

His second goal came when Mitchell corralled a Broncos clearing pass at the left point and skated through traffic in the slot, going left to right. The right shot found Lukosevicius all alone to Blacker’s right with more twine than goalie in his way.

“Ian did everything on my second goal. I didn’t have to do anything at all,” the senior said. “That guy should make World Juniors. If he doesn’t I’m going to be upset with Team Canada.”

A special feeling

One point of emphasis for DU during its two-week span between games was improving its special teams play, including playing a more disciplined game. Mission accomplished.

Lukosevicius’ first goal came shorthanded after he and Staub thwarted a Western zone entry. His third one came 40 seconds into a third period power play.

“The discipline was good. On our kill we executed a lot better,” Carle said. “You saw a zone entry where Staub was pressuring down, Luko anticipates it really well and springs himself for a goal.

“In (the defensive) zone, you didn’t see us running around like you did the first four games.”

The Pioneers took just three penalties, but the Broncos tallied 17 seconds into the second one when Hugh McGing scored his second goal on a rebound on Devin Cooley‘s right doorstep.

One hiccup

Carrying a 1-0 lead out of the locker room after an uneven first period, the game could have flipped on DU.

Cooley (26 saves) struggled to handle a puck behind his net that Ethen Frank got to and passed to McGing, who scored uncontested into the open net just 11 seconds into the period.

That energized the Broncos, but the Pioneers went back to basics and put their foot on the accelerator.

“We knew Western was going to pressure us hard, so we needed to chip pucks out and beat them to the pucks, that’s what we did,” Lukosevicius said. “We got away from that in the first and a little bit in the second, but then we got back to playing our style of hockey and it ended up working.”

Notes

Freshman defenseman Kyle Mayhew made his NCAA debut. He played most often with either junior Erich Fear or fellow freshman Slava Demin. … The Pioneers were strong in the circle, winning 35 of 63 face-offs (55.5 percent). It’s a crucial stat for any team but particularly one that relies on puck pressure as much as the Pioneers do. Freshman Brett Stapley led the way, winning 13 of 21 draws (62 percent).

Denver’s three stars

1. Jarid Lukosevicius. The senior scored three goals and generated all sorts of chances.
2. Ian Mitchell. The sophomore blue liner was superlative in setting up Lukosevicius’ final two goals while playing a strong defensive game.
3. Liam Finlay. His increased willingness to shoot is creating more opportunities for his teammates as well as himself.

Up next

The teams play the rematch Saturday at 7:07 p.m. MDT at Magness Arena. AM 1600 will carry the broadcast, while Altitude2 will televise the game.

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