(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
Jakob Stridsberg tallied two goals to lead Arizona State to a 3-2 victory over fellow Sun Belt team Alabama Huntsville.
The battle between the two southernmost teams remained stagnant with neither team taking more control over the other in what was perhaps the most even match-up the Sun Devils have played so far this season.
Stridsberg opened up the scoring in the first on a top shelf power play goal with assists by Tyler Busch and Joey Raats.
“We won the special teams battle,” head coach Greg Powers said. “That’s one of our most important measurements. In generally in any game, when you can win the special teams battle and score more goals on special teams than the other team you’re going to give yourself a really good chance to win and that was the difference tonight.We scored a power play goal and they didn’t.”
A main focal point for the Sun Devils during practice has been to convert on power plays and take advantage of having an extra man on the ice. Tonight, they succeeded in doing just that with killing every penalty the team had.
Stridsberg was the leading man on the ice during the second period, taking the puck to the net almost every opportunity he had.
“The coaches always yell at me for not shooting enough,” said Stridsberg. “I tried to just do that and got lucky today.”
The adrenaline push by the defensemen led him to receiving his fifth goal of the season and second of the game with assists by Brinson Pasichnuk and Brett Gruber.
Stridsberg’s aggressiveness spread to the rest of the team with the captains line, consisting of Anthony Croston, Dylan Hollman and Louie Rowe, taking control of the puck and keeping it in Charger zone for better part of the period.
“They’re fun to watch,” said Powers. “When they’re cycling the puck and using their big bodies and working off each other, and wearing down and we have a noticeable size advantage over that team, we have to use it more towards our advantage than we did tonight tomorrow.”
Croston had multiple goal attempts, but unfortunately was beat by Alabama’s Mark Sinclair’s glove. Croston also was given a penalty shot and missed just wide of the net.
Hollman, the captain, continued with the push in the third period with getting the third goal of the night with the assist donned by Pasichnuk. The third period was played more similar to the opening period given that no team took more control over the other due to playing out of desperation: ASU was in need of its second win and the Chargers in need of closing the two-goal deficit.
“The guys gotta be desperate and do everything they can and leave it all out there and hopefully it goes our way,” said Powers.
Alabama Huntsville scored with just over 1:30 left on the clock to close the gap to a one point game. The final buzzer was then followed by a scuffle between Brinson and Josh Kestner from Alabama.
The Sun Devils finished the game to improve to a 2-1 record while at home.
“We’re looking for that milestone of a first home sweep,” said goaltender Joey Daccord. “We’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
ASU hockey returns for the second time in the Battle of the Sun Belt tomorrow night at 7:05 at Oceanside Ice Arena.
