Whether it was a case of a young team getting acclimated to what it’s like to play a road series against a ranked team or simply running into a hot goaltender, or both, No. 1 Denver had no answers for No. 14 Massachusetts for the second night in a row at Amherst, Mass.

As a result, the Pioneers were shut out, 3-0, and absorbed their first series sweep since dropping a pair at North Dakota last November. DU (2-2) last was shut out in a Frozen Faceoff semifinal by Minnesota Duluth in March.

On Saturday, Denver corrected many of the trouble spots from Friday, particularly its penalty kill and D-zone coverage. But the Pioneers could not solve goalie Luke Pavicich, who made 30 saves one night after stopping 43 shots.

As it was, Denver scored just two goals on the weekend, both with an extra attacker on the ice late in Friday’s game.

Magnus Chrona played well in the Denver goal, making 22 saves, and there wasn’t a lot he could have done on the Minutemen’s first two goals.

Defenseman Scott Morrow’s shot in the first minute hit the end boards, caromed off the back of Chrona’s lower leg or skate and into the net. That put Denver behind the eight ball early, just as allowing two shorthanded goals in the first five minutes had Friday.

Denver had the better of the chances in the second period, but an errant clearing pass up the slot went to Matt Koopman, who rifled it past Chrona with 3:08 to go before the second intermission. Cal Kiefiuk, whose major penalty in the first minute of Friday’s game led to DU’s ill-fated five-minute power play, left no doubt about the outcome when he scored into the empty net with 1:52 to play.

Denver’s tour of Hockey East continues next week with No. 15 Providence paying a visit to Magness Arena for alumni weekend.

It likely won’t get any easier for the Pioneers to score goals. The 3-0 Friars have allowed a total of four goals thus far.

The impetus will be on Denver to get more traffic in front of opposing net minders and not settle for perimeter shots, and get its lethal transition game back in gear.

As we learned last season, one rough trip back East does not a season make. The Pioneers dropped two games at Providence and Boston College and then got swept at Grand Forks, N.D., the following weekend. But this weekend should serve as a reminder that DU is a work in progress.

©First Line Editorial 2022