(Photo: Kylee Meter/WCSN)
When the puck dropped in the Arizona State zone with just under four minutes to play in the second period, the five players that donned the Sun Devil Pitchfork knew that the next five minutes could drastically change the course of the game.
ASU was up 2-0 and was faced with a five-minute penalty kill against Michigan State after Jarrod Gourley received a game misconduct for checking from behind.
The ASU penalty killers ended up doing what they’ve done best this season: keep the puck out of the net. The No. 1 penalty killing team in the nation (92.7%) did more than just kill the five minute penalty, too. The Sun Devils only allowed two shots to reach junior goaltender Joey Daccord in the duration of the penalty on ASU’s way to a 2-0 shutout victory over MSU.
“We’re out working them,” junior defenseman and team captain Brinson Pasichnuk said following the game. “The guys we have on the kill, I believe, are there for a reason. They’re not afraid to sell out and possibly break their ankle blocking a shot. That’s why we’re so successful.”
ASU gave up five power play opportunities to the Spartans, holding the MSU shotless on three of the five power plays and only allowing four shots in total to reach Daccord while killing penalties.
In total, Daccord only faced 20 shots throughout the game, and only 41 throughout the whole series. The 2-0 victory also marked Daccord’s third shutout of the season. His other two coming against Alaska Fairbanks.
“With the shot blocks and the D-zone that we play, it really just allows me to play my game and try to control the game as much as possible,” Daccord said.
ASU broke the goose eggs on the scoreboard two-thirds of the way into the first period. As the Sun Devils broke into the Spartan zone, it was senior Jake Clifford from the far faceoff dot who found Pasichnuk in front of the crease for a tip-in that gave ASU a 1-0 lead to carry on into the first intermission.
It would take 11 minutes for the Sun Devils to score again. This time, it was sophomore Filips Buncis who would capitalize on the power play for ASU. It was his second goal of the series and his fourth point of the year. Freshmen Jordan Sandhu and Austin Lemieux tallied assists on the goal.
“[Buncis] deserves more time,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “What makes him so special is that he gets it. He is an incredible teammate and he’s making the most of his opportunities.”
ASU’s 2-0 victory puts the team at 9-3-0, surpassing the team’s win total a year ago; and marks the team’s third sweep of the season.
Powers said, “These guys believe in each other and they think that every time they take the ice they should win.”
The sweep puts ASU into prime position to crack the NCAA top-20 for the first time in program history. Since 2010, Power’s has lead the team from a ACHA National Championship in 2014; and now he and his team sit on the verge of a national ranking.
“To be honest, it’s just now just feeling like it used to,” Powers reflected “There was some growing pains, and we all went through it together as we were building our culture back up.”
As ASU prepares for six straight road games, Powers is keen to keep the team full-steam ahead.
“Hockey is hockey. Kids are kids.”
