No. 1 Denver (14-4) vs. Lindenwood (4-10)

7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday at Magness Arena

TV / Streaming / Radio: Altitude2 (Friday) / NCHC.tv / 104.3 FM HD-3

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

The Pioneers have won five games in a row and eight of nine overall. At home, they’ve won 17 consecutive non-conference games. They will be minus defensemen Sean Behrens and Shai Buium, as well as forward Jack Devine – each of whom is at Team USA’s training camp for the World Junior Championship in Plymouth, Mich. Still, the cupboard is hardly bare for this matchup. DU will have seven of its top eight scorers available, led by forwards Massimo Rizzo (23 points), Carter Mazur (14 goals – second in Division I) and Casey Dornbach (19 points), and defenseman Mike Benning (15 points). It would not be a surprise to see the goaltending duties split, with senior Magnus Chrona (12-4, .907, 2.32) getting one start and sophomore Matt Davis (2-0, .933, 2.26) getting the other.

Lindenwood, which is in its first season at the D-I level, has not played in a month. It scores almost 3 goals per game, but keeping the puck out of its net has been the issue, as it gives up 4.29 goals per game. Opponents fire an average of nearly 44 shots on goal per game at the Lions’ goaltenders. Not a great recipe against a DU team that fires 34 shots per game on net. Three goalies have made at least three starts. Sophomore Trent Burnham has made the most (seven) and has a 3-4 record to go with .911 and 4.03 numbers. The other two – Ron Samenkangas (Ferris State) and Matt Ladd (Canisius) – are grad transfers. Five forwards have 11 or more points in the Lions’ 14 games, led by sophomore David Gagnon (16). Senior Hunter Johannes, a transfer from AIC, has a team-high seven goals.

©First Line Editorial 2022