(Photo: Patty Vicente/WCSN)
After a historic sweep of Quinnipiac at home, Arizona State (5-3) will travel to the edge of the Arctic Circle for a two-game tilt with Alaska-Fairbanks (5-5).
The Sun Devils enter the series on a four-game win streak dating back to their win over Air Force on Oct. 18. They have outscored opposing teams 17-6 over that span, thanks in no small part to the emergence of freshman winger Logan Jenuwine, who potted a pair of goals in game one of Arizona State’s sweep of Quinnipiac. Jenuwine’s recent production has given the Sun Devils a second scoring line, something they lacked early in the season.
“I finally feel like my confidence is there now,” Jenuwine said.
In addition to Jenuwine’s success over the last four games, sophomore goaltender Evan DeBrouwer has played reasonably well as of late, stopping 51 of 55 shots he faced in the Quinnipiac series for a cumulative save percentage of .927. DeBrouwer should have an excellent opportunity to extend his win streak this weekend against a low-scoring Alaska team that has suffered three shutout losses in their last six games.
Johnny Walker still leads the Sun Devils in scoring with five goals and seven assists in eight games. Walker’s 12 points are tied for fifth-most in the country and he will have a strong case to be included in the Hobey Baker conversation if Arizona State’s win streak continues.
Head coach Greg Powers confirmed that forwards Filips Buncis and Brett Gruber would both miss the series with injuries.
“They’re both out this weekend,” Powers said. “We expect them both to be back by the time we play Vermont.”
Meanwhile, Alaska-Fairbanks is trying to find consistency in its game, having split their last three series. The man advantage in particular has been an area of weakness for the Nanooks, who have scored only three power play goals all season.
Although their power play has struggled so far this year, Alaska-Fairbanks boasts a stellar penalty kill that has allowed just five power play goals on 50 chances this season. The Sun Devils’
Junior centerman Max Newton leads the Nanooks in scoring with three goals and four assists in ten games, while senior defenseman Tristan Thompson is second on the team with three goals and two assists in the same number of games. In net, Swedish-born senior Anton Martinsson and Latvian sophomore Gustavs Grigals have shared the workload. Martinsson has started 5 games, going 3-2 with a 2.25 goals against average and .933 save percentage, while Grigals is 2-3 with a 2.92 goals against average and .881 save percentage in the same number of games. It is likely both goaltenders will see action against Arizona State.
Although the statistics favor Arizona State, Alaska-Fairbanks has a decisive home-ice advantage. The forecasted high temperature for Friday and Saturday is a bone-chilling 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and there can be as little as four hours of sunlight during the winter. While the conditions are far from ideal, Arizona State has overcome their share of adversity in this young season, and will need to do so again in order to keep their win streak alive.
