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Puck Doesn't Bounce ASU Way, Split Series with RPI

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Puck Doesn't Bounce ASU Way, Split Series with RPIPuck Doesn't Bounce ASU Way, Split Series with RPI
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State hockey team couldn't complete the home sweep on Saturday night, as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute capitalized on a late goal in the third and an empty netter in route to a 2-0 victory at Oceanside Ice Arena.
 
While the Sun Devils (3-12-0) were held scoreless, that's not to say they didn't have their fair share of chances against RPI sophomore goaltender Cam Hackett.
 
"Those are tough to swallow because we're home, and we felt that was one of the games I think it was an evenly played game," said head coach Greg Powers. "I was happy with how we came out in the third. The first few shifts were right there and had some grade A chances. At the end of the day, you can't miss those backdoor tap ins that we had in the first period. I think there were three of them that you have to finish. It was just one of those games. You know, you can't win when you don't score and we were fighting to put the puck in the net tonight. They played hard, nothing to take away from RPI, they found a way to win."
 
Senior goaltender Robert Levin was stellar for a majority of the game, combining for 26 saves on the night.
 
The Engineers (3-12-1) broke the 49-minute tie as junior defenseman Jared Wilson snuck one passed Levin, who caught an edge in the crease and couldn't relocate the puck in time to make the save.
 
"I thought he was good -- he was solid and had some big saves," said Powers of Levin. "Again, I need to look at the goal that they scored, I didn't see it, so I have no idea what caused it. Overall, he was good. The first two periods he did what he had to do, he kept it to a scoreless game. They had very minimal scoring chances in the third. The first two periods, especially the first period, he had three or four big saves."
 
With 1:41 left in the game, Powers pulled Levin for an extra attacker to start the faceoff in the RPI zone. Despite the man advantage, RPI's Riley Bourbonnais won the puck battle along his own half wall to fire a wrister that found the empty net.
 
The Sun Devils had three power play opportunities and six combined shots on goal during those chances.
 
Sophomore forward Jordan Masters paced the Devils with five shots on goal.
 
Hackett finished the night with 28 saves in the shutout – the third posted against ASU this season. It's also his second career victory against the Devils, as he earned the 23-save, 4-1 victory a season ago on Dec. 12, 2015.
 
ASU will return to the ice on Friday, Dec. 2, as they host Colgate at Oceanside Ice Arena at 7:05 p.m.