While we are all hoping last weekend was an aberration in an otherwise great season, it will be very interesting to watch the intensity level of Denver in this regional.
If the St. Paul debacle didn't force a little humility and resolve into these players, nothing else will.
I think Monday's practice should be very interesting to see how the coaching staff prepares the Pioneers for the regional. Will there be some punishing skates? How will Lalonde get Chevy refocused? What can be done about the poor defense? The top line? The special teams? How will the captains and seniors deal with the wake up call in St. Paul?
DU still has enough talent to beat anybody in the country, but they need to reach deep within and show everyone what kind of team they are going to be in this NCAA tournament. At the very least, we'd better see an improved start to the game. We need to see skates digging in and moving instead of gliding. We need to see back checking and forechecking and shot-blocking. We need to see an all-out effort, or these guys WILL take it to their graves.
Focus. Effort. Drive. Maybe Gwoz needs to reach for some inspiration. Bring in the players of the teams that won NCAA championships to talk to the boys and about how it felt and how they overcame adversity. And bring in some players of DU teams who fell short, and have them talk about the lifelong regrets they harbor. Perhaps hearing from fellow peers will help put this team into some sense of perspective...
