Scouting preview: Arizona State Men’s Hockey vs RIT

(Photo: Travis Whittaker/WCSN)

Arizona State (13-8-3) takes on the Rochester Institute of Technology (11-8-3) on Friday and Saturday night in Tempe.  Here are a few key facts with regard to both teams ahead of the two-game set:

• ASU swept RIT last season in Rochester, with wins of 6-1 and 4-2 to open the February part of the schedule.  Then-junior defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk had three goals over the course of the two games.  Senior Dylan Hollman also had two goals, both coming in the series opener.
• RIT might post a bit more of a challenge this time around. The Tigers finished last season 17-17-4, but are above .500 so far this year and have received as many as 77 votes in USCHO’s weekly Division I poll, enough to rank them just outside the top 20.
• The Tigers have been very potent on offense this season. They’re tied for 15th in the country in goals scored.  It’s an impressive mark, considering they’re 41st out of 60 Division I teams in shots.
• Offensively, RIT spreads the wealth.  Three skaters – sophomore forward Will Calvery, senior forward Shawn Cameron and freshman forward Andrew Rinaldi – all are tied for the most goals scored on the team with nine.  Three others are tied for third most with five.
• Junior goaltender Logan Drackett’s 2.51 GAA this season ranks 37th in the country.  His .911 save percentage ranks 37th as well.
• The Tigers have a couple notable wins this season: they beat No. 15 ranked Bowling Green 3-1 to open the season, and are coming off a 3-2 upset win over No.13 UMass-Lowell just last weekend.

Keys to success: The Sun Devils will have to slow down RIT’s offense if it wants to be successful. The ASU goaltending, which has struggled lately, will look to gain its footing in a crucial series for the Sun Devils.

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