How many more scenes like this we see this season will depend a great deal on how much higher Denver cranks its intensity going forward. 

While No. 1 Denver didn’t achieve its objective of winning the NCHC’s Frozen Faceoff this weekend all was not lost. The Pioneers got a valuable taste of the postseason in a setting where a loss doesn’t end their season, and with Saturday’s 3-1 victory over a Western Michigan team that was playing for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament, they guaranteed they will be the tournament’s top overall seed. Pairings will be announced later this morning.

Here are a few things that were reinforced over the weekend:

1. Denver has great depth, not just good depth. Coach Jim Montgomery elected to sit his top three forwards (Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Gambrell and Troy Terry – NHL draft picks all), his top defense pair (Will Butcher and Adam Plant) and goaltender Tanner Jaillet. Borgstrom is one of the NCAA’s top-scoring rookies, Gambrell and Terry each have north of 30 points, Butcher will be an all-American for a second year in a row and is the only defenseman among the final 10 Hobey Baker candidates, Plant has put himself squarely on the radar of NHL scouts and Jaillet is not only a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award but a probable finalist. Just how many teams could sit six players of that ilk and beat a top-10 team that was vying for a better seeding? What the Pioneers got from forwards Kevin Conley, Brad Hawkinson and Rudy Junda and defenseman Erich Fear and Sean Mostrom was a heavy dose of hunger. What they got from goalie Evan Cowley is what they’ve gotten from him all season – great play. Cowley (5-2, 1.13 GAA and .955 save percentage) did what he has done every time Montgomery calls on him – gives the Pioneers a chance to win. How many teams would like a goalie with his numbers?
2. The postseason is a different animal. Speed and skill remain important, but sometimes the simplest play is the best at a time when the intensity meter rachets up. The North Dakota game was a great reminder of this. As tight as it was, the Fighting Hawks had stretches where they brought another level of intensity. If I was a betting man, I’d predict that is reinforced repeatedly this week. It’s a lesson DU must master if it lands in the Fargo Regional (which it could) there is a good chance they will see NoDak again.
3. I’m sure there is some gnashing of teeth over not winning the NCHC playoff trophy but … that’s not the one anyone associated with the DU program is really after, not with this group of players. While not the optimal outcome, Friday’s loss could be useful going forward. One thing is for certain, spring break is over and the graduate level classes begin next weekend.