(Photo: Riley Trujillo/Sun Devil Athletics)
Oceanside Ice Arena was buzzing on Friday night. Just five minutes into the third period, Arizona State blew the lid off of what was a 1-1 tie against the Rochester Institute of Technology.
For 4:48 seconds in the game’s final frame, ASU’s offense was relentless, scoring five goals in that span, two of which came within seven seconds of one another.
However, standing 200 feet away from the Sun Devils’ offensive onslaught was Max Prawdzik. While Prawdzik’s team’s offense stole the night’s headline, it was the graduate transfer goaltender who made his presence known in just his third start of the season,
In his sixth game as an ASU goaltender, Prawdzik saved all but one of the 25 shots he faced in the game. He found an early rhythm despite the Sun Devils being outshot 4-0 through the first five minutes of the contest.
Prawdzik’s nod in net came after last weekend’s 18 save, zero goals allowed relief effort of sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer. ASU secured its first 3+ goal come-from-behind victory over Brown in that game with a 4-3 win in overtime.
“I was excited when coach told me I was going to play,” Prawdzik said. “I thought the guys did a good job. There wasn’t anything too crazy in the beginning of the game. They let me settle in.”
For most of the game, ASU’s defense allowed Prawdzik ample time to set up and make routine saves.
Even still, there were a few times throughout the game where RIT heavily tested the metal of Prawdzik. Two breakaway chances, one in the second period and one in the third, were stifled by Prawdzik, garnering cheers from the crowd.
“It’s really nice to have two good goaltenders,” one fan loudly exclaimed.
Prawdzik’s performance in Friday’s game helped seal ASU’s first victory of the year in games where it entered the third period tied. Previously, the team had been 0-4-1.
“(Recent third period performances are) all timing and getting big saves when you need it,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said.
Prawdzik improved his record to 3-0-0 on the year, posting a .976 save percentage in his last two outings.
As Prawdzik continues to grow into his position on the team and gain more confidence, ASU has also seen its third period woes start to dissipate in the last two games.
“We had been in this position so many times,” Powers said. “We knew if we’re going to do what we need to do, and go where we need to go we got to win these games.”
Now, it seems as if Prawdzik has found the wind in his sails, and with his defensemen in front, ASU just may have found their third period remedy.
“We never question the backbone we have in our room, or our character,” Powers said. “We know we have what it takes to do some special stuff.”
