(Photo: Sam Farsky/WCSN)
ASU was 13 minutes and 44 seconds away from completing a home sweep of No. 19 Colorado College this past Saturday when a long pass from senior forward Ryan Kirwan was tapped in for a goal by junior forward Charlie Schoen to extend the team’s lead to 4-1.
Instead, the game turned into an embarrassing 5-4 loss that removed the Sun Devils as the frontrunner for the NCHC regular season title. It was eerily similar to ASU’s overtime loss at Miami last season, when it also let a 4-1 lead slip away en route to a series split.
In dire need of a rebound and to add to the conference point total, No. 12 Arizona State (14-9-1, 9-5 NCHC) heads northeast to do battle with the Redhawks (3-19-2, 0-14 NCHC).
“I think as a team we just didn’t play hard,” sophomore defenseman Anthony Dowd said. “We didn’t play our game. We didn’t stick to it. We got lazy and it cost us in the end. Now it’s something we know not to do moving forward.”
The greatest weapon the Sun Devils possess in their arsenal, which has allowed them to exceed all expectations as a first-year member of the NCHC, is special teams excellence. Notching a power play goal in both games against Colorado College has moved the unit up to fifth-best in the country at a 27.6% success rate, aided by ASU’s penalty kill going a combined 8-for-8.
“We put that veteran group together and put some responsibility on them,” head coach Greg Powers said. “Like hey, you guys are all fifth-year seniors. We’re going to go as far as you take us and you have to execute and you have to go out and score big goals in big moments. Since we’ve put that group together, they’ve taken that responsibility very well and ran with it.”
One of those experienced leaders on the power play unit who has been a true difference maker whether on special teams or five-on-five is the aforementioned Ryan Kirwan. A two-goal, two-assist performance on Saturday made the forward the current team leader in points while adding to his resume for the Hobey Baker Award after receiving a nomination on Jan. 22.
“We knew how talented he was obviously,” Powers said. “He’s got an NHL release right now and you’re starting to see that now he’s playing with confidence, and it’s filtered the rest of his game where he’s got great habits defensively, he’s got a great stick. He’s doing all the little things right. When you do that, the goals come.”
Three Sun Devils were nominated for the Hobey Baker Award which honors the top player in college hockey in a given season. Alongside Kirwan, graduate defenseman Noah Beck and junior forward Bennett Schimek have also been recognized. This marks the fourth straight season that ASU has had at least two Hobey Baker nominees.
“It definitely means a lot but it couldn’t be possible without my teammates and the success that we’re having as a team,” Kirwan said.
Looking at Miami, they’re the textbook definition of a team with nothing to lose at this point. The Redhawks are currently riding a 16-game losing streak, which ties a program record, and are yet to win a game against an NCHC opponent. Defense and goaltending in particular has been a struggle with giving up four goals against on average.
However, there are elements in play for the Redhawks to try and shoot for a massive upset. The team’s penalty kill is near-average with a 79.8% success rate. It’s also worth noting is the likelihood that the Sun Devils will have to face graduate goaltender Brett Miller, the only Miami netminder carrying a save percentage above .900 who surrendered just two goals against No. 3 Western Michigan in his most recent start.
“I don’t think it’s really about wins and losses this year; it’s about establishing an identity and culture in that environment,” Powers said. “When you don’t see the wins in the win-loss column yet for them, you see it in tape. They play hard, they’re still bought in and they’re going to be going hard.”
It cannot be understated how critical it is for ASU to play at its best during this upcoming series considering the bigger picture in the NCHC standings. The Sun Devils sit in third place at 28 points with Omaha in second at 29 points and Western Michigan in first at 30 points. This weekend sees Western Michigan play two games at Colorado College while Omaha goes on the road to No. 5 Denver.
Arizona State also aims to undo some of the damage taken in the team’s standing in the PairWise Rankings in pursuit of a ticket to the big dance. After dropping from No. 10 to No. 14, the Sun Devils are projected to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to the latest bracketology from U.S. Collegiate Hockey Online.
Chasing after home-ice advantage in the NCHC tournament and a return to the NCAA tournament may be in reach, but nothing is set in stone yet. The Sun Devils still have a lot to prove over the next month which starts by not taking any opponent on the schedule lightly.
“We’re focused on Miami,” Powers said. “That’s the nice thing about being in a league where you are right now in the year, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing. Three points is three points. Three points is up for grabs on Friday. It doesn’t matter if it’s Miami who’s right now in last place or if it was Western (Michigan) who’s in first. We’re focused on continuing to stay at the top and get back to the top.”
