Arizona State flew to Von Braun Center expecting to take two wins away from the University of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers and spoil their home-opening series.
Just a few miles away from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the Sun Devils did exactly that Friday and Saturday night, the optimism around its early-season success continuing to take off after a second weekend sweep in three weeks.
ASU (4-2-0) earned its first road wins of the season over UAH (0-6-0) with 2-1 and 5-1 victories. The Sun Devils dominated with strong special teams play and contributions from all over their roster.
“Overall, great effort. Two big road wins,” coach Greg Powers Powers told Sun Devil Athletics after the 5-1 win.
Despite taking 12 penalties in the series, the Sun Devils managed to fend off all of the Chargers’ power play opportunities. With sophomore goalie Joey Daccord standing tall in the crease, ASU has now killed 21 consecutive penalties and holds a penalty kill efficiency rating of 93.8%, which ranks third in the nation.
“Our guys are just working so hard,” Powers said. “Our best killer is our goalie and Daccord was in good shape.”
Daccord was phenomenal in goal, stopping 51 of 53 shots on goal by the Chargers. With the series sweep, Daccord now boasts a 1.18 GAA and a .956 save percentage, both of which place in the top-10 among NCAA goaltenders. He leads the country with four wins, two shutouts, 357 minutes played and 151 saves.
On the flip side, though the Sun Devils tallied only one goal on ten power play chances, they put up 38 total shot attempts while on the man-advantage.
For the full 120 minutes at Von Braun Center, the Sun Devils received contributions up and down the lineup. The Sun Devils’ top line of junior Tyler Busch, junior Brett Gruner, and sophomore Johnny Walker paved the way offensively, notching both goals in the first game.
As time expired on ASU’s first power play opportunity, Walker found Busch down low and the co-captain did not miss, firing his second goal of the season. Gruber scored his first of the season and the eventual game-winner after the Chargers capitalized on Hans Gorowsky’s breakaway equalizer.
In the series finale, the Sun Devils struck three times with three different lines in the final two minutes of the opening period. Goals by Busch, senior Jake Clifford, and freshman Austin Lemieux within 79 seconds sparked a 3-0 lead heading into first intermission.
“I thought there was some good flow and we were able play five-on-five,” Powers said. “I was comfortable throwing everybody out in specific situations offensively. Everything was clicking. When you have everybody going on all cylinders like that, we can be tough to beat.”
The third line of senior Dylan Hollman, senior Anthony Croston and freshman PJ Morroco connected for the fourth goal of the evening as Hollman tapped home a behind-the-back dish from Croston in the second period.
Latvian skaters Gvido Jansons and Filips Buncis recorded their first collegiate assists. Jansons took a shot on goal and Lemieux buried the loose puck while Buncis helped with Hollman’s tally.
Later, Gourley unloaded a howitzer from the point past the UAH netminder to give ASU the 5-1 edge.
Walker had three assists over the two-game stretch, giving him eight points in the season’s first six games, good for fourth in the country. The sophomore has 32 shots on goal which leads both his team and paces the NCAA.
A Fistful of Firsts
After opening the campaign two weeks ago with a program-first home series sweep against Alaska Fairbanks, the Sun Devils earned their first road series sweep since December 2016, when it topped the Massachusetts Minutemen 4-1 in back-to-back wins, with its pair of victories over the Charges.
Fourteen Sun Devils found their names on the scoresheet and five collected their first goals of the season: Gruber, senior forward Jake Clifford, freshman Austin Lemieux, senior Dylan Hollman, and freshman defenseman Jarrod Gourley. For Lemieux and Gourley, it was their first collegiate goals.
Latvian skaters Gvido Jansons and Filips Buncis recorded their first collegiate assists. Jansons took a shot on goal and Lemieux buried the loose puck while Buncis helped with Hollman’s tally.
What’s Next?
The Sun Devils head back to Oceanside Ice Arena for the first of four matchups against Nebraska-Omaha on October 26. ASU has yet to get a win against the Mavericks, however, the Sun Devils earned a tie and shootout victory in their most recent head-to-head contest in Omaha last season.
“It’s going to be a big weekend,” Power said to Sun Devil Athletics. “[Nebraska-Omaha] has a really good program and we’re going to have to be at our best to have a chance.”
