ASU Rides Strong Second Period to Capture Victory Over No. 18 Clarkson

(WCSN Photo/Marlee Smith)

After being embarrassed in its two-game series against Denver last week, Arizona State came back to upset No. 18 Clarkson Friday night.

With help from a four-goal second period, the Sun Devils were able to pull off the upset and win 4-3.

Junior goaltender Ben Kraws continued his strong season in his start on Friday. He was able to set the tone early in the game as to what was to come for the Sun Devils.

Kraws shut out the Golden Knights in the first saving 15 shots. Unfortunately for Kraws, he would give up the first goal of the game early in the second period to Chris Klack.

The Sun Devils knew they had to pick up their teammate and answered back with a big response.

In six minutes, ASU put up four goals from four different players. Redshirt senior Chris Grando got the scoring started for ASU. Clarkson’s Ethan Haider gave up a big rebound that Grando put into the back of the net to tie the game.

The goal ended Grando’s scoreless skid dating back to Nov. 24.

Four minutes later, freshman Jack Jensen came out of the penalty box and immediately gave the Sun Devils the lead with a deflection in front. The goal was Jensen’s second of the season and his first since the season-opening game against UMass Lowell.

Less than 30 seconds later, ASU would extend their lead to two with a goal from sophomore Ryan O’Reilly. From the left circle, O’Reilly sniped the puck right over the goaltender’s right shoulder. O’Reilly also led the game in scoring after he also assisted on Grando’s goal earlier.

The scoring barrage would not end for the Sun Devils in the second. Senior Colin Theisen scored the eventual game-winning goal.

Head coach Greg Powers was happy with his team’s play in the second period.

“It was great to see and feel that again at Oceanside. We want to play downhill and when we play like that (goals) will come in bunches,” said Powers.

Heading into the third period, Clarkson was on the attack for the entire period. The Golden Knights scored their second goal 25 seconds into the period off of a slapshot from the blue line.

Kraws would focus in and stop all shots that came his way for the next 17 minutes of the game.

With three minutes remaining and down two, Clarkson pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. The strategy worked as Mathieu Gosselin was able to get the game within one with 26 seconds left.

Clarkson was unable to do anything else in the last half-minute of the game and ASU pulled out the victory.

The hard fighting that was shown throughout the game continued through the final whistle.

Seconds after the game Anthony Romano shot a puck at Kraws and the Sun Devils took offense to that. Senior Sean Dhoogie was the first to reach Romano and broke his stick on his initial hit.

This led to both teams fighting in the corner behind the ASU net. After the dust settled, penalties were given out that will carry over to the next game.

Freshman Ty Murchison picked up his second game misconduct in as many games and will miss the series finale between the two teams. Romano was also awarded a game misconduct and will miss Saturday’s game.

After pulling off the upset, ASU will look for the series sweep over the nation’s No.18 team on Saturday night. Fans will have to see if the bad blood following Friday night’s game will carry into Saturday.