ASU Men’s Hockey Preview: Sun Devils travel south to face Alabama-Huntsville

After being swept by No. 1 Ohio State last weekend, the Arizona State Sun Devils will look to rebound this weekend against Alabama-Huntsville.

They appear to have a pretty good chance of doing that too. Alabama-Huntsville is 0-4 to start the season, beginning the year with a hard schedule reminiscent of ASU’s. The Chargers opened by getting swept in a two-game series against Miami (Ohio), lost a close 1-0 game against Colorado College and then were blown out by No. 10 Denver. Neither Miami (Ohio) or Colorado College is ranked, but both have received votes in the top 20 poll. Additionally, all of the Chargers games thus far have been on the road. It’s the Sun Devils’ first road trip of the season.

“I’m pumped,” said Brinson Pasichnuk. “Never been to Alabama so that’ll be cool.”

Pasichnuk pointed to the bonding that the team will experience on the road trip.

“I think on road trips we just bond so much,” he said. “That’s when we take another step as a team because you’re with the guys 24/7.”

The Sun Devils left for Alabama two days early so that the players would have time to hang around with each before the puck drops Friday night.

But when the series does get underway, the Sun Devils said it will be all business. Despite their 0-4 record, the Chargers are an experienced team who have been similar to ASU over the years. Their roster is the 7th oldest in D1 hockey. ASU ranks closer to the average age mark.

The Chargers program has struggled in past seasons. Not since the 2005-2006 season has the team has finished the regular season over .500. Since their head coach Mike Corbett took over in 2013, the team’s highest win total has been a meager 12, which it accomplished last year, including when it earned a series split in Tempe last November.

The series could be a battle of netminders. So far this season, ASU and Alabama-Huntsville have gotten high production out of their goalies. Sun Devil junior Joey Daccord’s 94.3 save percentage ranks 8th in the country, while Alabama-Huntsville’s goalies rank 20th at 91 percent. The Chargers have split starts in net this season, with senior Jake Theut and sophomore Mark Sinclair each making two. Considering the teams play twice on back-to-back days, it’s possible ASU sees both. The sophomore’s been better, as Theut was in the net for the 6-0 loss against Denver.

The Chargers will have a lot to handle on the defensive end. ASU has gotten the 4th most shots in the country this season, mostly thanks to the vast amount of power plays they drawn. The Devils have struggled to put the pucks in the back of the net, but they’re getting pressure.

Johnny Walker and the Sun Devils offense can turn that around this weekend. Alabama-Huntsville has allowed the most shots in the country this season. That’s something the Devils can work with, Walker especially. With five points in four games, Walker is 5th on the points leaderboard for the entire country.

The ASU defense is also going to have its own challenge. They’ve given up a lot of shots as well; the tally of 106 is good for 4th in the nation. The two goalies have done a lot for their teams, and with the state of both their defenses, that is gonna have to continue Friday.