It turns out Friday night’s whitewash of Yale was just a warm-up for Saturday’s fireworks.

No. 2 Denver scored a season-high nine goals and freshman Freddie Halyk posted his second shutout in a row. The Pioneers (10-3-1) regrouped on offense and defense heading into two massive NCHC series vs. No. 1 North Dakota and No. 15 Western Michigan over the next two weekends.

Here are takeaways from the cumulative 14-0 sweep and a look at what’s on the horizon:

Denver Displays Rare Offensive Depth

Of the 19 skaters who dressed both nights, only two didn’t score a point. Fourteen of the 19 registered a point Saturday, led by junior center Massimo Rizzo (goal, three assists) and freshman defenseman Zeev Buium (four assists) with four apiece. Captain McKade Webster had a career-high three points for the second night in a row, and Jack Devine scored his 13th goal and added two more assists.

REPLAY: McKade Webster tallies his 2nd of the night for his first career multi-goal game! pic.twitter.com/kEIEEQXmFI

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 26, 2023

The Devine-Rizzo-Webster top line had seven goals this weekend, three apiece by Devine and Webster, giving the trio 25 on the season.

That is just the tip of DU’s forward scoring depth, however.

Rieger Lorenz and Carter King scored Saturday, giving the second line 18 goals. Linemates Tristan Broz and Aidan Thompson also scored while their linemate Miko Matikka didn’t for the first time in seven games. That trio has 13 goals. Perhaps the best news was Thompson’s because he had not tallied since opening night.

Tonight’s @Safeway Goal of the Game comes from the 1st period and this impossible angle from Tristan Broz. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/YobMOSYdVg

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 26, 2023

Freshman Sam Harris got the fourth line into the act, too. His third goal gave his trio seven on the season.

DU’s Defense, Goaltending Take a Step

The Pioneers’ average of 5.5 goals per game is more than a goal per game more than any other Division I team.

Give Yale (2-7) credit. One night after generating just 13 shots on goal, the Bulldogs put 28 on Halyk. Yale generated way more offense at five-on-five.

Still, the Pioneers’ renewed defensive emphasis helped Halyk to this third helping of donuts this season.

Denver’s forward group dedicated itself to applying more pressure on pucks, which in turn made the defense’s job a bit easier.

The Pioneers also played sophomores Kent Anderson and Lucas Olvestad more. Olvestad had only played in four games prior and was solid. He registered his first two assists on Saturday. Anderson has been in the lineup all but two games but played more minutes.

Will This Translate for DU Going Forward?

Next up is the Green Menace. Like DU, North Dakota completely revamped its backend, adding former Miami goalie Ludvig Persson (11-2-1, 1.85 gaa, .924) and almost an entirely new D corps.

The results have been impressive. The Fighting Hawks are tied with Wisconsin for the NCAA lead with a 1.9 goals-against per game. North Dakota always does an excellent job closing off center ice, so the challenge for DU will be getting to the net and scoring some “greasers” as Webster calls them.

But they’re not one-dimensional. NoDak averages 3.6 goals per game, led by the forward tag team of Jackson Blake (18 points, 10 goals) and senior Riese Gaber (13, 7).

No. 3 in scoring defense? DU’s next opponent, Western Michigan, which is backstopped by Cameron Rowe. The Broncos, also featuring a revamped roster, score 3.7 goals per game.

It won’t be easy for the Pioneers over the next two weekends, and a 14-0 cumulative margin won’t happen. However, DU took positive steps this weekend.

Now we’ll see how those translate against fellow NCHC standard-bearers.

©First Line Editorial 2023