(Photo: Sun Devil Athletics)
On a night normally catered to candy and costumes, Arizona State men’s hockey marched up to Ohio, attempting to start one-for-one in conference play and take the shine from Miami’s perfect record.
After falling behind just 135 seconds into the first period, it began to look like ASU was going to drop its third game straight and be left with a trick rather than a treat on the last day of October.
Despite an early Halloween scare, a blaze of resilience and a slew of late defensive efforts gave the Sun Devils (3-4-0, 1-0 NCHC) the upper hand in Friday’s series opener, as they etched the first loss into the RedHawks (6-1-0, 0-1 NCHC) record, scoring four unanswered goals and starting conference play on the right foot with a four to one win.
Miami opened the scoring on the power play, as junior forwards Doug Grimes and Matteo Giampa connected on a deflection goal, stunning the Sun Devils moments into the opening frame.
Several minutes later, the RedHawks found themselves one man down in what would become a night-long parade to the penalty boxes. Whistles constantly rang out through the Goggin Ice Center with 14 total penalties on the night, presenting plenty of opportunity for both power plays.
ASU’s eight one-man advantages led to a pair of goals on the night — a respectable 25 percent clip and an improvement to their 20.4 percent mark on the year. The RedHawks went one for six on their power plays, a 17 percent mark compared to their normal 20.8 percent mark.
The Sun Devil power play left much to be desired early in the season, but it has been a highlight of their game as of late. Head coach Greg Power’s top unit has simplified its puck movement, which has not only led to a higher level of production but has also allowed the Maroon and Gold to build momentum even when they do not score.
This was the case in Ohio, as just two minutes after senior Bennett Schimek leveled the game at one on the power play, he orchestrated a symphony of a goal, finding junior Sean McGurn on the back doorstep after a beautiful criss-crossing zone entry that left both RedHawk defenders scratching their heads.
Freshman Jack Beck also posted a power play tally after sitting out the first six games due to the Canadian Hockey League transfer rules. The ex-professional wired a wrist shot from the high slot past the glove of sophomore goaltender Matteo Drobac to put the nail in the coffin and give ASU a 3-1 lead with under a minute left.
Beck proved his worth in his debut with the Sun Devils, wreaking havoc all over the ice defensively and turning it into an offensive opportunity. His new linemate, sophomore forward Cullen Potter, also found the back of an empty net to put a bow on ASU’s first win in conference play.
Heading into the third period with a mere one-goal advantage, the Sun Devils needed late defensive efforts they have struggled to find all season. With Miami mounting an offensive onslaught late, ASU’s blue line came through with a flurry of blocked shots and stern defensive sticks, shutting the RedHawks out in the final frame.
With a massive scrum in front of senior netminder Connor Hasley and just five minutes remaining, sophomore Sam Court and freshman Justin Kipkie found a way to keep Miami at bay, due to a sprawling block from Court and the towering presence of a 6-foot-4 Kipkie. Schimek was also involved defensively in his three-point performance, blocking several shots, including a blueline howler in the game’s final minutes.
The Maroon and Gold’s defensive performance was likely their most impressive stand to this point, stumping the nation’s second-best scoring offense for 58 consecutive minutes. They also held the RedHawks to just 20 shots compared to the 38 shots they have allowed on average this season.
The Sun Devils’ response marked their first come-from-behind win of the season and their first time holding a team scoreless in the final frame. Their first road win of the year shows signs of growth in an underwhelming start to the season, but they will have to replicate it in order to complete a series sweep over Miami. The two sides will butt heads again tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. MST, as ASU’s brief Midwestern road trip winds to a halt.
