The two games DU hockey played this weekend could not have been more different in terms of style of play. 

The 5-5 shootout loss against Augustana was a thrilling end-to-end affair where both teams were giving up goals for fun. In the 4-0 win over Air Force, the teams were much more defensively responsible, especially Denver who recorded their first shutout of the season.

The Augustana game on Friday was a major disappointment for the Crimson and Gold, with the defense (which has been creaky to start the season) looking as shaky as ever. However, this did not rear its head early in the first period, with Denver blowing Augustana away in the first eight minutes.

DU scored three goals in the opening eight minutes and four seconds, looking well on their way to a comfortable home win. 

The first goal came from freshman defenseman Boston Buckberger who has started the season exceptionally, scoring seven points in six games. The second goal came from sophomore forward Rieger Lorenz who put Denver up 2-0 in the first four minutes of the contest.

The Crimson and Gold continued their mauling of the Vikings for the next few minutes and were rewarded with yet another goal. After a faceoff in the offensive zone, junior forward Jack Devine was the first to locate the puck and fired a shot into the back of the net. 

Devine has been flying to start the season, recording 13 points in the opening six games, forming a formidable partnership with junior forward Massimo Rizzo on the top line.

After going up 3-0, Denver let their guard down, playing with a level of arrogance that would come back to bite them. Head Coach David Carle was not satisfied with the performance. 

“Our defense was leaky all night. Giving up 3-0, 4-2, 5-4 leads at home is not a recipe for success or something that is up to our standard,” said Coach Carle. 

Carle called the performance “embarrassing for us,” while also crediting Augustana, saying they were “very well-prepared and earned everything tonight.”

The first Vikings goal came from a sloppy turnover which Augustana took advantage of to get on the board and provide much-needed pushback to the early Denver onslaught. They added another late in the first period, with Hunter Bischoff scoring following a wild scramble in front of the net. 

In a game with a lot of goals, surprisingly none of them were scored in the second period. The best chance came when Augustana hit the post early in the period, but the game settled down from the chaotic first period. 

Denver did a good job killing off a couple of penalties, something they did well all weekend. The goalless second period was the calm before the storm, rather than a sign of what was to come in the third.

Six minutes into the third period, DU added some insurance to put them back up two goals, when freshman forward Kieran Cebrian scored courtesy of a lovely pass from Devine. This goal should have put the game away, but the leaky defense proved fatal for the Crimson and Gold.

Denver managed to throw away the two-goal lead in just over a minute, with the Vikings striking twice in 24 seconds to tie the game at four. The quick strike was a result of bad defending and questionable goaltending from junior netminder Matt Davis, who we later learned was nursing an injury.

However, Denver responded well to losing the lead, pressing for a go-ahead goal, something they got thanks to a Rizzo strike. Devine got yet another assist, showcasing the outstanding chemistry the two forwards have on the top line. 

This score would hold up until Augustana struck with 20 seconds to go in regulation when the Vikings tied the game up. Buckberger committed a penalty when the Augustana net was empty, and the Vikings scored on a 6-on-4 advantage to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Augustana looked more likely to score, coming particularly close to winning the game at one point. After a big opportunity for Augustana, the stick of diving sophomore forward Aidan Thompson kept the puck out of the net and the game tied. 

Nobody would score in overtime, sending the game to a shootout, which Augustana would win, shocking No. 2-ranked Denver.

DU needed a bounce-back performance against Air Force, especially defensively, and that is exactly what happened. Denver recorded their first shutout of the season, in a stellar performance from the defense and freshman goaltender Freddie Halyk. 

There were a number of changes to the lineup in the Air Force game. Coach Carle said he had planned to give Halyk a start this weekend, but the other changes happened “based on different people’s play.” 

Lorenz was moved up to the top line tonight and relished the opportunity.  

“It was very cool to play with two amazing players in Jack [Devine] and Massimo [Rizzo],” said Lorenz.  

Coach Carle believed Lorenz could adapt to being on the top line and said that his play in the last couple of games prompted him to give Lorenz the chance. 

“He got the opportunity because of how he played, his puck pressure, his ability to create turnovers etc., so don’t change those things. He did a nice job of continuing to play to his identity,” said Carle. 

While he only got one assist on the night, it was easy to see how his more physical style of play complimented Rizzo and Devine. Lorenz got his spotlight in the first period, assisting a Rizzo goal to give Denver a 1-0 lead, something they would never relinquish. 

The turning point in the game came in the middle of the second period when DU killed off a 5-on-3 Air Force advantage thanks to outstanding saves by Halyk. Coach Carle was pleased with Halyk’s performance. 

“He was big and boring; that’s what he needed to be. A lot of pucks stuck to him. When things did break down, like they do every game, he was there to make some real big saves for us,” said Carle. 

After killing off the 5-on-3, DU responded quickly with a goal that put them up 2-0, thanks to freshman defenseman Cale Ashcroft, who scored his first collegiate goal. 

Air Force put up a good fight but was no match for a locked-in DU team, whose high-end talent paid off.

The best example of that high-end talent came on the third goal when Rizzo scored a breathtaking end-to-end goal, which he finished while falling down. It was an outstanding play that previewed why Rizzo will be in the conversation for the Hobey Baker this season. He has already recorded five goals and nine assists to give him a team-high 14 points in only six games.

Denver added icing on the cake when junior forward Carter King scored an empty net goal to give Denver a 4-0 victory.

Next weekend, DU will face off against arch-rivals Colorado College, with a home game on Friday at 7 p.m. before they play in Colorado Springs on Saturday.