ASU Men’s Hockey: Daccord, Walker lead Sun Devils to series split at Boston University

(Photo: Riley Trujillo/WCSN)

Saturdays have treated Arizona State well this year. The Sun Devils had just three losses on that day of the week this year, plus a shootout tie.

And in their series finale at Boston University Saturday night, that didn’t change.

ASU shut out the Terriers 3-0 to earn a two-game split at Agganis Arena, riding huge performances from its Hobey Baker Award nominees to avoid a weekend sweep. Junior goalie Joey Daccord made 28 saves to earn his NCAA-leading seventh shutout and sophomore forward Johnny Walker tallied his 20th and 21st goals of the year to help the Sun Devils improve their record to 17-10-1, the type of resilient performance the team has relied on all season.

After surrendering four goals in Friday’s loss, Daccord rallied well in the first period Saturday, holding strong as BU’s physical play once again gave them good opportunities on the offensive end.  Despite the chances, the Terriers managed just one less shot than the Sun Devils.

“I told Joey tonight, the only thing better than getting a shut out versus BC would be to shut out BU at home,” coach Greg Powers said of his goaltender, who grew up in Massachusetts and shut out Boston College earlier this month in Arizona. “He told me after the game that he agreed.”

Walker got going early too, firing three shots in the opening period, including a rifle late in the frame that was snatched out of the air by Terriers goaltender Vinnie Purpura, who got the start over Jake Oettinger.

ASU opened the scoring with two goals in the second period, one early on from sophomore Filip Buncis, a prominent offensive producer in Friday’s contest, and another by Walker, who tipped in a rifle from freshman defenseman Joshua Maniscalco.

The 2-0 lead was the result of good second-period pressure from the Sun Devils, who got off 18 shots and won 17 of 22 faceoffs. Two 4-on-4 scenarios opened up the ice, and though ASU granted BU an extra power play, the Terriers couldn’t take advantage.

ASU held on in the third period and tacked on an extra goal too.  With possession deep in the BU zone, forward Brett Gruber fired a shot that off Purpura’s pad that ended up right in front of Walker, who sniped it in.  It was yet another display of Walker’s offensive prowess and ability to be in goal-scoring spots at the right time, a big reason he is in contention for college hockey’s most prestigious award.

Saturday’s win was a big one for the Sun Devils, who snapped a three-game losing streak and boosted their NCAA Tournament resume with six regular-season contests left to play.

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