Hockey

ASU Men’s Hockey: Notre Dame series preview

Last week, Arizona State Men’s Hockey made history by winning both of its games against the heavily favored Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, the first time ever that ASU has recorded a road sweep over a Big Ten foe.

The No. 20 Sun Devils (2-3-1) are looking to repeat history this week as they make their way to South Bend for a two-game tilt against No. 20 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-2).

Although ASU will be without senior forward and team co-captain Johnny Walker (lower body injury) for the third series in a row, the Sun Devils still boast a deep lineup full of reliable scoring options. Freshman forward Matthew Kopperud comes into the series riding a two-game goal streak and will continue to play a prominent offensive role in Walker’s absence.

While ASU’s attack garnered most of the attention against Wisconsin, goaltending has been a strength for the Sun Devils too. For the first time since joining the NCAA, Arizona State has a bona fide tandem, freshman Cole Brady and junior Evan DeBrouwer. Brady and DeBrouwer are likely to start one game each against Notre Dame, as they have done in every series up to this point.

“We’ve got a great situation back there,” head coach Greg Powers said. “Two guys we know can win us games.”

Much like ASU, Notre Dame enters this matchup having just swept a heavily favored opponent. The Fighting Irish notched two close wins against the Michigan Wolverines last weekend in Ann Arbor, thanks in large part to the performance of sophomore goaltender Ryan Bischel. Bischel will need to be at his best again if Notre Dame hopes to contend with an ASU squad that potted 11 goals against the Badgers.

Although Bischel has given Notre Dame much-needed stability since taking over for senior Dylan St. Cyr, scoring has been an area of concern. The Irish were shut out in their season opener against Wisconsin and their average of two goals-per-game is tied for second-worst in the Big Ten. Senior forward Colin Theisen leads the team with three goals on the season, all of which were scored in the same game, and no other player has found the back of the net more than once. To compensate for their lack of offense, the Fighting Irish will have to rely on a rigid defensive structure and strong special teams, which has been effective against ASU in the past.

Both teams will have a chance to get back over .500 this week, but the matchup also provides a chance for the Sun Devils to exorcise some old demons. In their last meeting with Notre Dame in 2016, the Sun Devils lost 9-2 and surrendered six power play goals in a game that featured 29 total penalties.

“The staff certainly hasn’t forgotten about it,” Powers said. “It’s going to be hopefully a really good series.”