SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the second straight night, the Arizona State hockey team proved they can skate with a top-ranked team in the country in just year two of their NCAA stint.
Despite the scoreboard showing a 4-2 victory in favor of No. 9 Notre Dame (2-0-0) -- with one of the goals being an empty-netter with a minute remaining -- the Sun Devils (0-2-0) had a 3-2 lead taken away late in the 2nd period on an interference call off the faceoff.
"First and foremost, I'm so proud of our guys," said head coach Greg Powers. "They played arguably one of the top five teams in the country toe-to-toe and it could have easily gone our way. We feel that was a game we played well enough to win and should have won. The goal they called off on us should have never been called off -- it was a hockey play off a draw."
With the faceoff to the left of junior goaltender Cal Petersen in a 2-2 tie, freshman Tyler Busch won the draw, sending the puck right back to redshirt junior Wade Murphy for a one-timer that was blasted past Petersen before he could react. As the goal horn sounded and the Devils celebrated, the referees signaled for an interference penalty, disallowing the goal.
While the Devils killed off the penalty -- one of eight killed on the night -- another call left the Sun Devil staff puzzled on the eventual game-winning Irish goal 1:42 into the 3rd. A cross-checking penalty was called on redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe moments before the Irish goal and the confusion lied on whether a whistle was blown before the puck found the back of the net. Powers would challenge the call, but the play would stand.
"I really don't know what to say," stated Powers. "I told our guys we feel we won that game and right now in the first year of our program, it's not about the tick in the 'L' column or the tick in the 'W' column. That's a benchmark effort this program can build off of. We just proved we can play with anybody, no problem."
The game started almost exactly how Friday night did, with Notre Dame scoring early to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Devils did what they didn't the night before, pressuring right away and knotting the game at one just 18 seconds later on a blast from freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg -- his first of his collegiate career.
The first period would end that way, with the two teams both firing nine shots on goal.
In the second, both teams would capitalize on the man advantage. Freshman forward Tyler Busch tallied his second goal in as many nights, this time burying the backdoor feed on the power play to once again even up the score. Yet again, the Devils nearly matched the Irish in shots, 22-20.
After the second goal of the night by Notre Dame leading scorer Anders Bjork early in the third, the Devils would have several chances against Petersen, but couldn't put one past him to tie it for the third time.
ASU senior goaltender Robert Levin stood tall all game, making several big saves with his glove and using his stick to clear his crease for 33 saves on the night.
The Devils will return home for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 14 against Air Force at Gila River Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. and tickets are still available. Tickets for students are free.
Despite the scoreboard showing a 4-2 victory in favor of No. 9 Notre Dame (2-0-0) -- with one of the goals being an empty-netter with a minute remaining -- the Sun Devils (0-2-0) had a 3-2 lead taken away late in the 2nd period on an interference call off the faceoff.
"First and foremost, I'm so proud of our guys," said head coach Greg Powers. "They played arguably one of the top five teams in the country toe-to-toe and it could have easily gone our way. We feel that was a game we played well enough to win and should have won. The goal they called off on us should have never been called off -- it was a hockey play off a draw."
With the faceoff to the left of junior goaltender Cal Petersen in a 2-2 tie, freshman Tyler Busch won the draw, sending the puck right back to redshirt junior Wade Murphy for a one-timer that was blasted past Petersen before he could react. As the goal horn sounded and the Devils celebrated, the referees signaled for an interference penalty, disallowing the goal.
What do you think of the disallowed goal tonight? Interference on Norris (inside winger) or not? #YouBeTheJudge ?? pic.twitter.com/IVxpwwN17w
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 9, 2016
While the Devils killed off the penalty -- one of eight killed on the night -- another call left the Sun Devil staff puzzled on the eventual game-winning Irish goal 1:42 into the 3rd. A cross-checking penalty was called on redshirt sophomore Louie Rowe moments before the Irish goal and the confusion lied on whether a whistle was blown before the puck found the back of the net. Powers would challenge the call, but the play would stand.
"I really don't know what to say," stated Powers. "I told our guys we feel we won that game and right now in the first year of our program, it's not about the tick in the 'L' column or the tick in the 'W' column. That's a benchmark effort this program can build off of. We just proved we can play with anybody, no problem."
The game started almost exactly how Friday night did, with Notre Dame scoring early to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Devils did what they didn't the night before, pressuring right away and knotting the game at one just 18 seconds later on a blast from freshman defenseman Jakob Stridsberg -- his first of his collegiate career.
The first period would end that way, with the two teams both firing nine shots on goal.
In the second, both teams would capitalize on the man advantage. Freshman forward Tyler Busch tallied his second goal in as many nights, this time burying the backdoor feed on the power play to once again even up the score. Yet again, the Devils nearly matched the Irish in shots, 22-20.
After the second goal of the night by Notre Dame leading scorer Anders Bjork early in the third, the Devils would have several chances against Petersen, but couldn't put one past him to tie it for the third time.
ASU senior goaltender Robert Levin stood tall all game, making several big saves with his glove and using his stick to clear his crease for 33 saves on the night.
The Devils will return home for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 14 against Air Force at Gila River Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. and tickets are still available. Tickets for students are free.