Top-ranked Denver controlled much of the play and rode balanced scoring to 5-2 non-conference hockey victory over No. 19 Northeastern.

All four lines had a goal and every class was represented in a game in which the Pioneers (3-0) outshot the guests 75-37 overall and 45-17 in shots on goal. Matt Davis made 15 saves for DU.

“I thought it was workman like in a lot of ways,” DU coach David Carle said. “Things we’ve been working on in camp, certainly saw that in a lot of areas. It’s Game 3, so it’s hard to nit pick with the effort we had.”

Denver Responds to Pressure Points

A key juncture in the game came midway through the second period. Freshman Jake Fisher scored after a nifty backdoor pass from Zeev Buium to give DU a 2-0 lead 1:55 in.

This pass by Zeev Buium & goal by Jake Fisher is SICK! pic.twitter.com/qfNK7SEAU8

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 19, 2024

Northeastern, which had just three shots on goal in the first period, was more determined in the second 20. It pulled to one goal 4:29 in when Cam Lund scored on a two-on-one with Joe Connor. Denver couldn’t hold the puck in at Huskies’ line and the NU duo was off to the races.

However, the Pioneers responded 1:28 later when sophomore Sam Harris roofed a shot from the slot over Cameron Whitehead’s blocker. The goal came off a feed from Fisher. The third member of the line, freshman Hagen Burrows picked up his second assist on the play, giving the trio five points.

“I got the puck in the neutral zone, had a guy on my side, bumped it over to Hagen, and he passed to Fish,” Harris said. “I came in late as a trailer and called for it. Fish saw me and got it to the middle, and I shot it.”

“Both of them are skilled players, and they’ve got a little grit to them, too, which is awesome,” Harris said. “They’re fast, they know how to move the puck well, and obviously know how to score. It’s fun to play with them.”

This rip by Sam Harris is tonight's @Safeway Goal of the Game! pic.twitter.com/pmZ7gaDb1d

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 19, 2024

The game could have turned just 16 seconds later when a scrum in front of Davis led to freshman defenseman Tory Pitner being assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for facemasking. The call came after Northeastern’s staff asked for a review. Denver limited Northeastern to just one shot in four minutes. A too many men penalty evened things with one minute remaining on the major.

“The response was good, and the kill was big,” Carle said. “They only had one power play (in their previous game), and you’re thrown a five-minute major, so you’re not sure what they’re going to do. Their staff is really good with coaching the power play so we were a little curious how that was going to go.

“I thought we a lot of good stick touches and clears. The one time we got extended in zone, Matty had to make a couple of good saves; he was excellent in that moment. Certainly the game could have shifted there.”

Fast Starts Spark Denver

All but one of Denver’s goals came within the first six minutes of a period.

The top line of Carter King, Jack Devine and Aidan Thompson teamed up for the first one, 5:16 into the game.  Devine’s pass from the wall to Whitehead’s left found Thompson between the circles. He quickly found King on the backdoor, and the captain wasted no time roofing a shot short side.

Burrows initiated the second goal by Fisher from nearly the same spot when he found Buium in the high slot. Harris’ strike, which proved to be the game winner, came 5:57 in.

“It was a really good start by our guys; I think we fed off the crowd,” Carle said. “Great atmosphere, and the student section was unbelievably all night long. I loved our discipline. We didn’t take a penalty all night long outside of that skirmish (in the second period). We didn’t let the emotion of the night get to us in that way.”

Two transfers connected on DU’s final goal, 2:31 into the third period. Returning sophomore Boston Buckberger dropped a pass for defense partner Eric Pohlkamp at the left point. The sophomore, whose skill for getting pucks on net was evident all night, ripped a shot that center Samu Salminen got a stick on at Whitehead’s right doorstep.

The one DU goal that came later in a period was courtesy of junior Jared Wright, who threw the puck toward Whitehead only to have it bounce off a backchecking Huskie past the Vegas Golden Knights draft pick.

Pioneers Show Grit in Home Opener

Yes, it’s early in the season, but Northeastern also is a talented team from Hockey East. The Huskies dressed six NHL Entry Draft picks and had won their opener 5-1.

Still, DU did well to disrupt the flow for the visitors. The Pioneers consistently reached loose pucks first, back checked, and got sticks and shin pads on passes and shots.

“That’s something DC has been working with us on, making sure we’re playing a good, structured game in the D zone and the neutral zone,” Harris said. “This team is really good, same as last year.”

Added Carle, “What I’ve been impressed with is I don’t see a letdown. This year’s team seems very hungry and motivated to build on what we did a year ago. … Their intensity and mindset to work through (things) has been really good.”

Notes: Denver will raise its record 10th NCAA championship banner before Saturday night’s 6 p.m. start … Buckberger also had two assists. … King and Pohlkamp had five shots apiece. … Kieran Cebrian won 11 of 14 face-offs (78.6 percent). … Thompson nearly gave DU a 2-0 lead last in the first period when his shot rang off the post.

©First Line Editorial 2024