It may not count as a win in the record books, but don't tell the Sun Devil faithful that the shootout victory over Wisconsin-Eau Claire will officially go down as a 3-3 tie.
"I felt like we really played better," head coach Greg Powers said. "I felt like we controlled the play."
Wisconsin-Eau Claire got out to a 1-0 lead near the midpoint of the first period, but it took Ryan Ostertag just 43 seconds to respond for ASU. Then a few minutes later Liam Norris gave the Sun Devils the 2-1 lead they would take into the third period.
The Blugolds ties it up in the third, then again after Joe Lappin gave the Sun Devils a 3-2 lead, his second in as many nights. The game remained tied for the final 11:29 of regulation and all five minutes of the overtime.
The hero of the night was Michael Cummings, scoring the only goal for either side in a seven-round shootout. He jumped off the boards and try to dangle the puck, but snapped one low and far side to put the Sun Devils on top. Robert Levin locked down the Blugolds on all seven shots.
"I knew that the goalie was pretty compact and he just left that side open for me," Cummings said. "It felt really good. Finally."
Saturday was the final NCAA game for the Sun Devils this season. They finish the year with four exhibition games, beginning Feb. 13 against ACHA Liberty at 7:30 p.m. MT at Oceanside Ice Arena.