COLUMBUS, Ohio – In the book, Saturday's matinee showdown on ESPNU between the Sun Devils and No. 10 Ohio State will appear with a "T" next to it, as NCAA rules state any game still tied after overtime is recorded as a tie.
But make no mistake, Arizona State (7-17-2) hockey captured a monumental shootout victory over the 10th-ranked team in the country behind Wade Murphy's goal to start the three-person shootout.
"It's a huge game for us," said head coach Greg Powers. "We felt like we carried the play of the game for 57 minutes. They had some push back there at the end of the second, put us down, but our guys never had a doubt. They never faltered and never wavered.
"We're trying to get our young team to understand how good it feels when you leave everything on the ice, and tonight they feel that way."
Overtime and a tie was only obtainable thanks to a former Ohio State commit wearing the black and gold. With the clock winding down under 30 seconds and an empty net at his back, freshman forward Tyler Busch – who originally committed to be a Buckeye before reopening his recruitment – tapped in the loose puck to tie the game at two with just 26 seconds left in the game.
"Obviously, he's a hell of a player," said Powers. "He's a big, huge piece to the future of this program moving forward. He's starting to turn a corner as are a lot of our young guys."
Even prior to the game-tying goal, senior goaltender Robert Levin played arguably one of the best games of his college career. With four minutes left in regulation, a turnover in the ASU zone led to a breakaway for sophomore John Wiitala and a chance to extend the Buckeye (11-4-5) lead to two. Levin stayed poised, not biting on the deke before extending his left pad out at the last minute to stuff the backhanded attempt.
In the second period, it was another one-on-one chance for Ohio State that was stymied by Levin, as he flashed the glove on junior Luke Stork to keep the game scoreless.
Not minutes later, Murphy gave ASU the first goal of the game and the first lead of the series with a blast from the top of the slot. The puck deflected off an Ohio State defender and passed senior goalie Christian Frey for the fourth power-play tally in as many games.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Devils managed to shut down the second-best power play team in the country, finishing 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. The Buckeyes only managed four combined shots with one on each man advantage.
Like Levin, Frey helped keep the game close with 26 saves on the night. In the shootout, Murphy one-upped the senior, making a move before snapping one blocker side over the pad.
After the opening shootout goal from Murphy, Levin stuffed all three attempts by Ohio State.
"We have a lot of hockey in front of us and we want to build off of this," said Powers. "We want to continue to make a statement that we're building a legitimate program out at Arizona State, and we're not a layup."
The Devils will return to Tempe for the first time since Dec. 3, as they host Division III Southern New Hampshire on Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets still remain for the second-to-last home series of the season.
But make no mistake, Arizona State (7-17-2) hockey captured a monumental shootout victory over the 10th-ranked team in the country behind Wade Murphy's goal to start the three-person shootout.
"It's a huge game for us," said head coach Greg Powers. "We felt like we carried the play of the game for 57 minutes. They had some push back there at the end of the second, put us down, but our guys never had a doubt. They never faltered and never wavered.
"We're trying to get our young team to understand how good it feels when you leave everything on the ice, and tonight they feel that way."
Overtime and a tie was only obtainable thanks to a former Ohio State commit wearing the black and gold. With the clock winding down under 30 seconds and an empty net at his back, freshman forward Tyler Busch – who originally committed to be a Buckeye before reopening his recruitment – tapped in the loose puck to tie the game at two with just 26 seconds left in the game.
.@SunDevilHockey is staying alive!
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 14, 2017
With less than 30 seconds left, Tyler Busch sends ASU to overtime against No. 10 Ohio State!
??:: ESPNU pic.twitter.com/sj7kD0z6Qf
"Obviously, he's a hell of a player," said Powers. "He's a big, huge piece to the future of this program moving forward. He's starting to turn a corner as are a lot of our young guys."
Even prior to the game-tying goal, senior goaltender Robert Levin played arguably one of the best games of his college career. With four minutes left in regulation, a turnover in the ASU zone led to a breakaway for sophomore John Wiitala and a chance to extend the Buckeye (11-4-5) lead to two. Levin stayed poised, not biting on the deke before extending his left pad out at the last minute to stuff the backhanded attempt.
In the second period, it was another one-on-one chance for Ohio State that was stymied by Levin, as he flashed the glove on junior Luke Stork to keep the game scoreless.
Not minutes later, Murphy gave ASU the first goal of the game and the first lead of the series with a blast from the top of the slot. The puck deflected off an Ohio State defender and passed senior goalie Christian Frey for the fourth power-play tally in as many games.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Devils managed to shut down the second-best power play team in the country, finishing 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. The Buckeyes only managed four combined shots with one on each man advantage.
Like Levin, Frey helped keep the game close with 26 saves on the night. In the shootout, Murphy one-upped the senior, making a move before snapping one blocker side over the pad.
After the opening shootout goal from Murphy, Levin stuffed all three attempts by Ohio State.
Miss the shootout? We got you covered! #ASUvsOSU pic.twitter.com/D4Wrtpr1MJ
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 14, 2017
"We have a lot of hockey in front of us and we want to build off of this," said Powers. "We want to continue to make a statement that we're building a legitimate program out at Arizona State, and we're not a layup."
The Devils will return to Tempe for the first time since Dec. 3, as they host Division III Southern New Hampshire on Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets still remain for the second-to-last home series of the season.