(Photo: Kylee Meter/WCSN)
The Sun Devil hockey team has split four series on home ice during the 2017-18 season and will look to improve on a 4-7-1 home record in its finale in the desert against Boston University this weekend.
“It’s something we’re going to focus on,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said when discussing a consistent effort through the weekend. “So, our guys gotta leave it all out (on the ice), it’s a big weekend and we want to leave a good impression on our home crowd.”
ASU (7-14-5) will host Boston University (11-11-2) at Gila River Arena in Glendale on Friday before heading back to Oceanside Ice Arena for the final matchup at home on Saturday.
Tickets have been sold out for the majority of Oceanside games thus far and the Sun Devils have also tended to play better in front of the 787-person crowd. The young NCAA Division-I team has a 4-4-1 record under Oceanside’s roof.
When it comes to sharing the larger home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes in Glendale, it’s a different story.
ASU suffered its first home sweep at the hands of Penn State in November, and last weekend fell 5-3 to Quinnipiac at that venue.
Last weekend’s series against Quinnipiac demonstrated ASU’s struggle with the Powers-dubbed “full 60 minutes effect” as the Sun Devils fell short of an official win and tied the Bobcats 2-2 in overtime at Oceanside.
Then on Saturday night at Gila River Arena, the Sun Devils’ confidence was plagued by a combination of penalties and a lackluster penalty kill during the first two periods of play.
“It was just kind of a perfect storm,” Powers said.
ASU attempted to make a comeback in the final 20 minutes, but the Bobcats held their lead and returned to Connecticut with a victory.
“There was belief on our bench that we were going to come back and that was good to see,” Powers said. “So, I was proud of the guys for that, but its gotta be a 60-minute effort. You can’t take shifts off against teams this talented, when you do they’ll hurt you.”
The differing home arenas are likely not to blame for ASU’s inconsistency as the team has not been able to win consecutive games against any opponents this season- regardless of the location.
This weekend, the Boston University Terriers will test the strength of their 6-4-0 road record at both of ASU’s home arenas.
The 101-year-old program has not been beaten in its past four games, a streak that included its first sweep of the season against Merrimack last weekend.
“They’re talented and we’re gonna have to be dialed in, and most importantly, we just have to stay out of the box,” Powers said.
Staying away from penalties will be key if ASU wants to find success, as BU’s Bobo Carpenter is ranked No. 11 in the nation with six power play goals. Additionally, six Terriers have scored at least twice with the man advantage throughout the season, which has contributed to the team’s 22.57 power play percentage and 72 goals overall.
Boston University is a big name in college hockey and the team currently has 12 NHL draft picks in the mix. However, ASU forward David Norris said practice this week hasn’t differed from the norm.
“We really have to score off our rushes, so we’ve kind of focused on that today (in practice),” Norris said. “They’re high skilled and we gotta come out fast.”
Scoring against the Terriers may be difficult for the Sun Devils; the team averages 2.23 goals per game. Although there’s been recent offensive sparks in the new year, the team’s overall offense is still ranked in the bottom 10 out of 60 Division-I teams.
Whatever the outcome, this homestand will be meaningful for Norris; he will be honored on senior night in front of an anticipated sold-out, maroon and gold crowd in Tempe.
“What’s special about Oceanside, is that it’s the only rink like it in Division-I hockey,” Norris said. “It’s a little nostalgic.”
After closing their time in the desert, the Sun Devils begin their final month of play against Yale on Feb. 2 and 3. Their 2017-18 season will conclude with back-to-back trips to the Great Lake State, which will consist of two series with familiar opponents Michigan Tech and Michigan.
