After building early momentum and proving they could beat anyone in the country, Denver hockey’s season has unraveled into a stretch defined by inconsistency, missed opportunities and mounting pressure. What began as a promising 5-0 run heading into winter break has slowly devolved into a two-month slide that now threatens Denver’s NCAA Tournament positioning.

Despite flashes of elite play including dominant wins over Arizona State, Miami (OH) and St. Cloud State, the Crimson and Gold have struggled to string together complete weekends. 

ASU Series: Nov. 21-22

Denver opened its extended winter break schedule on the road against Arizona State. DU overwhelmed the Sun Devils in a 7-1 rout Friday night, scoring early and often while controlling possession for most of the night.

Denver jumped out to a multi-goal lead in the first period and never looked back, generating sustained offensive pressure off clean zone entries and an aggressive forecheck. The team spread scoring across the lineup, capitalizing on defensive breakdowns and odd-man rushes. Freshman goaltender Quentin Miller was steady in net, turning aside 31 of 32 shots.

On Saturday, ASU jumped out a multi-goal lead in the first period. Junior forward Sam Harris tried to get back within reach, scoring both of Denver’s goals but Arizona State capitalized in overtime to hand Denver a 3-2 loss. 

Hall of Fame Game: Nov. 29 vs Minnesota

Returning home for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena, Denver once again found itself chasing a result. After trailing 3-1 after two periods, there was a large offensive push with six goals being scored by both teams in the third. Still, the Crimson and Gold found themselves trailing late in regulation.

Junior defenseman Boston Buckberger delivered the tying goal with just 24 seconds remaining, forcing overtime. However, the momentum didn’t carry over. With just 36 seconds left in the OT period, Javon Moore of the Golden Gophers sent the home team packing. 

Miami (OH) Series: Dec. 5-6

Desperate for stability heading into December, Denver delivered one of its most complete weekends of the season against Miami (OH).

During Friday’s 4-0 shutout, Denver controlled the neutral zone, limited Miami’s transition game and only let Miami shoot on goal 22 times. Miller was sharp, tracking the puck well and smothering rebounds, while the offense capitalized on sustained pressure rather than relying on rush chances.

Saturday’s 5-2 win built on that momentum. Denver struck early, just three minutes in, and freshman forward Brendan McMorrow’s shorthanded goal towards the end of the middle frame gave the Crimson and Gold the power they needed to finish the third period strong with two more goals. 

For the first time in weeks, Denver looked composed and confident on both ends of the ice but that soon diminished.

St. Cloud State Series: Dec. 12-13

The final series before the holiday break took Denver to St. Cloud, Minn., where the weekend once again ended in a split.

Friday’s 5-1 win was dominant. Denver jumped on St. Cloud early, scoring three times in the opening period and silencing the home crowd. 

Denver led early on Saturday, but St. Cloud rallied late, scoring three unanswered goals to win the game. Once again, DU failed to close out a winnable game which has been a theme that has defined multiple games this season. 

Maine Series: Jan. 2-3

Denver opened 2026 at home against Maine, but the new year brought no reset. Friday’s 5-2 loss began with a scoreless first period. The Black Bears came out strong in the second, scoring three goals before Denver got on the board, forcing the Crimson and Gold into a catch-up effort they couldn’t complete.

Saturday offered improvement, but it wasn’t enough. The game was back and forth from the start, with each team scoring one goal per period. Denver allowed a goal with two and a half minutes left into the third to force overtime. Neither team scored in the extra frame, sending the game into a shootout, Maine netting two shots to Denver’s one. Once again, the team couldn’t convert when it mattered most. 

Western Michigan Series: Jan. 9-10

The most alarming weekend came Jan. 9–10, when Western Michigan visited Magness Arena. Just two months earlier, Denver had swept the Broncos, the defending national champions, on the road in Kalamazoo. This time, the results flipped entirely.

Friday’s 4-1 loss saw Western Michigan score 55 seconds in the first period and held onto a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game. The gap became 2-0 just over a minute into the third but Buckberger was able to get Denver on the board for the first and only time of the night before the Broncos closed the game out with two empty net goals.

Saturday was worse. Sophomore forward James Reeder flipped the script early, scoring 35 seconds into the matchup before the Broncos went on to score five goals unanswered. Miller was pulled for the first time in his career and was replaced by freshman goalie Johnny Hicks who saved all 13 shots he faced. Senior forward Regier Lorenz was able to score once more for the Crimson and Gold before Western Michigan finished with another empty net goal on the weekend. 

North Dakota Series: Jan. 16-17

The skid continued in Grand Forks. Friday’s 5–0 shutout loss was probably Denver’s lowest point. The Fighting Hawks scored four on Miller before he was pulled for his second straight game and replaced by Hicks who allowed the last goal of the disastrous game. 

Saturday finally brought relief but it was not easy. Denver battled through a physical, high-intensity and back and forth game and edged UND 3–2, after junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp tied the game up halfway through the second and Reeder broke the tie on a power play to snap a nearly month-long winless streak. 

Rankings, RPI and What’s at Stake

Denver entered the ASU series ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Percentage Index (NPI) and climbed as high as No. 3 nationally on Nov. 17. As of last weekend, Denver has slipped to No. 9, with their NPI falling to 10th.

While that drop may seem manageable, the margin for error is thin. Only 16 teams make the NCAA Tournament, and with six conference autobids, bubble teams risk being pushed out quickly. Falling below the top 12 in the NPI places Denver in increasingly dangerous territory, especially while hosting an NCAA Regional this season.

Within the NCHC, Denver sits at No. 2, though the standings remain tightly packed. With only eight points separating the top three teams and three points awarded per win, the race for home-ice advantage and the conference autobid remains wide open.

Where Denver Goes From Here

Denver has shown they can dominate elite opponents like Boston College and Western Michigan, but their consistency remains elusive. Defensive structure, special teams execution and late-game composure will determine whether the Crimson and Gold stabilize or continue to slide. 

With seven of their next ten games at home, Denver has a critical opportunity to regain momentum in a familiar environment. They play another top-5 opponent Jan. 30-31 at home versus Minnesota Duluth and that will be a telltale sign that the Crimson and Gold have what it takes to turn their season around.