HAMDEN, Conn. – On Friday night, the Sun Devil men's hockey team won the physical battle, but lost the war to No. 17 Quinnipiac, as three Bobcat power-play goals made up the difference in a 5-2 loss at High Point Solutions Arena.
After coming out of the gates hot to start the game, the Devils (9-18-2) took the Bobcats' (14-10-2) bait and fell into penalty trouble, leading to an early 2-0 deficit.
"I felt like we came out in the first four or five minutes and set the tone like we wanted to -- throwing the body, keeping it clean and playing physical -- and then we got away from it," said head coach Greg Powers. "If you give a good team that many chances, it sucks the wind out of your sails."
Despite killing the first two penalties of the game, Quinnipiac finally struck for the first of three on the night, as junior Bo Pieper netted his ninth of the season. The goal was under review, as senior netminder Robert Levin appeared to be interfered with during the play. The referees ruled it a good goal, giving QU the 2-0 lead.
In total, the Devils spent 6:42 of the first period on the penalty kill.
A back-and-forth second period led to just one goal for either team, with Quinnipiac's Alex Whelan netting what would be the eventual game-winner. A rebound off Levin kicked right to Whelan, who was in the right place at the right time.
The Bobcats extended their lead just 38 seconds into the final frame, as Chase Priskie buried his first of two goals in the third period, and the second power-play tally of the game.
Four minutes later, the Devils' Wade Murphy ruined freshman Andrew Shortridge's shutout with a quick shot from between the circles. Freshman Tyler Busch made a beautiful pass from the corner to find Murphy for his eighth goal of the year.
While the Bobcats would answer with their third and final power-play goal of the game – finishing a combined 3-for-10 on the night – sophomore Jack Rowe buried his third of the season, making it his second-straight game with a goal.
"I thought we played well in the third," said Powers. "We stayed out of the box for the most part there and scored two goals. Five-on-five we were fine, but if you give them that many power plays, the guys get gassed and you can't get any momentum. Just because a team doesn't score on the power play doesn't mean it's not successful."
All in all, the Devils spent over a fourth of the game in the box with a total of 15 penalties overall.
Powers expects to take the positives from the final period and make proper adjustments for game two on Saturday night.
"We just have to be more disciplined and manage the game better," said Powers. "We've done it before and know we can do it."
Saturday's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST. The game can be watched live for free here.
After coming out of the gates hot to start the game, the Devils (9-18-2) took the Bobcats' (14-10-2) bait and fell into penalty trouble, leading to an early 2-0 deficit.
"I felt like we came out in the first four or five minutes and set the tone like we wanted to -- throwing the body, keeping it clean and playing physical -- and then we got away from it," said head coach Greg Powers. "If you give a good team that many chances, it sucks the wind out of your sails."
Despite killing the first two penalties of the game, Quinnipiac finally struck for the first of three on the night, as junior Bo Pieper netted his ninth of the season. The goal was under review, as senior netminder Robert Levin appeared to be interfered with during the play. The referees ruled it a good goal, giving QU the 2-0 lead.
In total, the Devils spent 6:42 of the first period on the penalty kill.
A back-and-forth second period led to just one goal for either team, with Quinnipiac's Alex Whelan netting what would be the eventual game-winner. A rebound off Levin kicked right to Whelan, who was in the right place at the right time.
The Bobcats extended their lead just 38 seconds into the final frame, as Chase Priskie buried his first of two goals in the third period, and the second power-play tally of the game.
Four minutes later, the Devils' Wade Murphy ruined freshman Andrew Shortridge's shutout with a quick shot from between the circles. Freshman Tyler Busch made a beautiful pass from the corner to find Murphy for his eighth goal of the year.
While the Bobcats would answer with their third and final power-play goal of the game – finishing a combined 3-for-10 on the night – sophomore Jack Rowe buried his third of the season, making it his second-straight game with a goal.
"I thought we played well in the third," said Powers. "We stayed out of the box for the most part there and scored two goals. Five-on-five we were fine, but if you give them that many power plays, the guys get gassed and you can't get any momentum. Just because a team doesn't score on the power play doesn't mean it's not successful."
All in all, the Devils spent over a fourth of the game in the box with a total of 15 penalties overall.
Powers expects to take the positives from the final period and make proper adjustments for game two on Saturday night.
"We just have to be more disciplined and manage the game better," said Powers. "We've done it before and know we can do it."
Saturday's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST. The game can be watched live for free here.