No. 2 DENVER (10-4-4, NCHC 5-3-2-1)

MErrimack (4-9-4, Hockey East 2-6-2)

QUICK NOTES

• Denver had its six (6) game unbeaten streak snapped with a 5-4 loss to Dartmouth on Dec. 16

• The Pioneers have held leads in 16 of 18 games this season. Oct. 20 vs. Lake Superior State and Dec. 9 vs. Colorado College mark the only games Denver did not hold an advantage

• Denver is in a stretch of five (5) of six (6) games at Magness Arena and four (4) straight games against non-conference and unranked opponents

• Merrimack enters this weekend on a three-game unbeaten streak, scoring nine (9) goals during that stretch

• Friday marks only the third meeting between Denver and Merrimack

DENVER SNAPSHOT

• Denver averages 3.50 goals per game, tied for fifth-highest in the NCAA The Pioneers have averaged only 2.40 goals per game in their last five (5) games

• The Pioneers have gone 3/21 on the power play and 16/16 on the penalty kill through their last six (6) games.

• Seven (7) of Denver's last eight (8) games have been decided by one (1) or fewer goals. The Pioneers have posted a 4-2-4 record in games decided by one (1) or fewer goals this season

• The Pioneers average 7.72 penalty minutes per game, fewest in the NCAA 

DENVER LAST SERIES

• Denver beat Dartmouth, 1-0, on Dec. 15, then fell, 5-4, on Dec. 16 in a two-game series at Magness Arena

• The Pioneers ended a four-game slide without a power-play goal, scoring once on the man advantage on Friday and twice on the man advantage on Saturday

• Denver combined to outshoot Dartmouth, 74-51, on the weekend

• Dartmouth scored five (5) unanswered goals on Saturday

DENVER: UP NEXT

• Denver faces Air Force for the first and only time this season on Dec. 30 at Magness Arena

• The Pioneers will resume conference play next weekend with a two-game series in Oxford, Ohio against Miami on Jan. 5-6

MERRIMACK SNAPSHOT

• Merrimack's power play ranks 14th in the NCAA, converting at 22.1% (17/77)

• The Warriors have played No. 8 Northeastern in three (3) of their last five (5) games, posting a 0-1-2 record

• Jace Hennig (7-8-15) and Brett Seney (4-11-15) lead Merrimack with 15 points through 17 games

• Merrimack has won only one (1) road game this season, beating New Hampshire 4-3 on Dec. 10

MERRIMACK COLLEGE LAST SERIES

• Merrimack played a single game set against Northeastern, tying the Huskies 1-1 on home ice

• Jace Hennig scored for the Warriors late in the first period of Saturday's game

• Merrimack finished 0/3 on the power play and 1/3 on the penalty kill

MERRIMACK COLLEGE: UP NEXT

• Merrimack travels to Colorado Springs to face Colorado College at the Broadmoor World Arena on Dec. 30

• The Warriors will travel to take on Connecticut on Jan. 5 and Providence on Jan. 6

PIONEERS IN THE POLLS

• The Pioneers took the No. 2 spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, collecting three (3) of 34 first-place votes. Denver has occupied the top spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll for 10 of 12 weeks (Last Poll: Dec. 11)

• Denver took the No. 2 spot in the USCHO.com poll, receiving eight (8) of 50 first-place votes. Denver has occupied the top spot in the USCHO.com poll for 10 of 11 weeks (Last Poll: Dec. 11)

NON-CONFERENCE BREAK

• The Pioneers are on a three-week break from conference play

• Denver has posted a 5-1-2 record against non-conference opponents this season

PENALTY KILLIN IT

• Denver has gone 16/16 on the penalty kill in its last five (6) games

• The Pioneers have the 15th-best penalty kill in the nation, going 48/57 (84.2%)

• Denver has been perfect on the penalty kill for nine (9) of 17 games

HOME STAND

• On Dec. 8, the Pioneers opened a stretch five (5) of six (6) games at Magness Arena

• Denver is 5-2-2 at Magness Arena this season. The team finished 16-3-2 on home ice last season

TOUGH SCHEDULE

• Denver played five (5) ranked opponents through its first eight (8) matchups of the season: No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 6 Boston University, No. 1 St. Cloud State, No. 3 North Dakota and No. 15 Minnesota Duluth

• According to the KRACH ratings, the Pioneers have the highest strength of schedule in the NCAA

ORGEL ADDED TO ROSTER

• Freshman defenseman Ryan Orgel was added from the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL) on Nov. 30

• The Los Angeles, Calif. native registered 38 points (15-23-38) and 95 penalty minutes through 67 games in the NAHL 

JAILLET CHASING RECORDS

• Tanner Jaillet is 3rd among Denver's all-time goalies in career wins with 69. Denver Athletic Director Ron Grahame holds the record with 85

• Jaillet is 4th among Denver's all-time goalies in games played with 112. Stephen Wagner holds the record with 124

APPROACHING MILESTONES

• Tariq Hammond played his 100th career game on Dec. 9 against Colorado College

• Tanner Jaillet made his 100th career start on Dec. 2 against Minnesota Duluth

• Blake Hillman played his 100th career game on Dec. 16 vs. Dartmouth

• Dylan Gambrell has 97 career games played

• Jarid Lukosevicius has 95 career games played

• Colin Staub and Troy Terry have 94 career games played

• Troy Terry has 92 career points. He is targeted to become the 138th member of Denver's 100-point club