From time to time we talk to DU coach Jim Montgomery about the team and an upcoming opponent. We always try to exit the conversation on a note of laugher. Some weeks are more successful than others in that department.

Mayhem: It’s Gold Pan week AND the start of NCHC play. What are you and the staff emphasizing to the boys this week?

Monty: There’s two things. You want to get off to a good start in the NCHC, and we’re defending our Gold Pan. We’ve got a heated rival coming in, a team that is desperate for their first win of the year.

Mayhem: What is your read on CC?

Monty: They’re playing good hockey. They’ve played a really tough schedule, a murderer’s row (this will be the Tigers’ fourth series in a row vs. a top-10 opponent). You can see it in the film, they’re doing a lot of things well. … We did a lot of things well last weekend and we didn’t come away with anything, and that’s what they’ve been doing all year against really good teams.

Mayhem: The goals against in the first and last two minutes of periods in Boston were problematic, no? (The Pioneers gave up five such goals, out of nine, on the weekend)

Monty: Momentum goals are something we talk about a lot. Maybe I haven’t emphasized it enough this year. We’ve been talking about it a lot this week, how you need to be ready to play in the first two minutes of a period, last two minutes of a periods and right after goals, too. Those are momentum goals.

Mayhem: Let’s finish on a lighter note. What is your all-time favorite arena rock song?

Monty: Welcome to the Jungle. That was huge when I was in college and minor-league pro years. It seems like it reverberated in every arena I was in. It always got my juices going.

@MagnessMayhem