This will be the only time the Pioneers face the Huskies in regular season action this season. Denver's record against MTU is 114-81-18. They first faced off in 1951. The Pioneers have a winning record of 76-26-10 mark against the MTU in Denver, including a 13-game unbeaten streak at Magness Arena. DU also has an eight-game overall winning streak against Michigan Tech. They have outscored the Huskies, 35-13, during the streak.
Michigan Tech is on a record setting streak (winless in 26 straight games), one Denver would like to help them extend. The Huskies are 3-23-4 on the season, a winning percentage of .167, which is actually better than their 2009 winning percentage of .153. To say it is a low point in Huskies history is being kind. The Huskies are last the WCHA in goals scored per game (1.73) and goals allowed per game (4.09). One kind thing I can say about Michigan Tech is they do have a storied history including three national championships (1962,1965 and 1975) and seven WCHA championships.
Denver will be happy to be home as they haven't lost since Oct. 16 and are 9-0-1 in conference play. Denver can reach the 20 win plateau for the 10th straight season with a sweep this weekend. The Pios are currently ranked No. 4 in the USCHO poll, the USA Today poll, RPI and pairwise rankings. They are also one point from the WCHA lead. All those things put DU in great shape for a NCAA tourney bid.
In players news, David Makowski, who is having an excellent freshman year leading WCHA rookie defensemen with 21 points won't be in Friday's lineup against the Huskies after receiving a five-minute major and 10-minute game disqualification for fighting at Minnesota last Saturday. Also, Kyle Ostrow won't be getting his 100th point for the Pios anytime soon as Kyle had emergency surgery last Friday. Mike Chambers at the Denver Post has more.
Lastly for those ready for playoff hockey WCHA tickets are now on sale.