DENVER, Colo. – After taking a 1-0 lead through the first 20 minutes against the No. 3 team in the country on Friday night, the Sun Devils ran into penalty trouble in a 5-1 loss to Denver at Magness Arena.
Despite controlling much of the first period, ASU (7-15-1) surrendered two power-play tallies – one being the eventual game-winner – to the Pioneers (13-4-4) in the second frame.
"It was obviously a disappointing result after coming out and playing such a hard first period," said head coach Greg Powers. "Bottom line is anytime you take penalties like that, whether they are good or bad calls, you have no chance of winning. Let alone against a team as talented as Denver."
Redshirt sophomore Wade Murphy gave the Devils their first and only lead on the night, burying a wrister on the power play for his sixth goal of the season. Freshman Brinson Pasichnuk and graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon picked up the assists, their sixth and ninth respectively.
The Devils lead entering the second period didn't hold for long, as freshman Henrik Borgstrom returned from the World Junior Championships to net his first of two goals on the night.
A back-and-forth battle ensued for the next five minutes before Denver broke open the flood gates with two power-play goals in 30 seconds. Matt Marcinew punched in the first at 9:27 before Borgstrom tallied his team-leading 10th to make it 3-1 just five seconds into the second penalty.
Less than two minutes later, Denver's Emil Romig found the back of the net for his first of the season, making it 4-1 entering the second intermission.
After firing 11 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, the Devils only put four shots through in each of the final two periods. Meanwhile, sophomore goaltender Ryland Pashovitz was peppered, making 42 saves – several of them goal-saving -- on 47 shots.
ASU spent nearly one-third of the second period shorthanded, with Denver having 6:39 of power-play time. They capitalized on two of their five total shots during that span.
Pioneer goaltender Tanner Jaillet picked up his 13th win of the season with 15 saves on the night.
The Devils and Denver meet again Saturday night at 7 p.m. MST.
Despite controlling much of the first period, ASU (7-15-1) surrendered two power-play tallies – one being the eventual game-winner – to the Pioneers (13-4-4) in the second frame.
"It was obviously a disappointing result after coming out and playing such a hard first period," said head coach Greg Powers. "Bottom line is anytime you take penalties like that, whether they are good or bad calls, you have no chance of winning. Let alone against a team as talented as Denver."
Redshirt sophomore Wade Murphy gave the Devils their first and only lead on the night, burying a wrister on the power play for his sixth goal of the season. Freshman Brinson Pasichnuk and graduate senior Robbie Baillargeon picked up the assists, their sixth and ninth respectively.
The Devils lead entering the second period didn't hold for long, as freshman Henrik Borgstrom returned from the World Junior Championships to net his first of two goals on the night.
A back-and-forth battle ensued for the next five minutes before Denver broke open the flood gates with two power-play goals in 30 seconds. Matt Marcinew punched in the first at 9:27 before Borgstrom tallied his team-leading 10th to make it 3-1 just five seconds into the second penalty.
Less than two minutes later, Denver's Emil Romig found the back of the net for his first of the season, making it 4-1 entering the second intermission.
After firing 11 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes, the Devils only put four shots through in each of the final two periods. Meanwhile, sophomore goaltender Ryland Pashovitz was peppered, making 42 saves – several of them goal-saving -- on 47 shots.
ASU spent nearly one-third of the second period shorthanded, with Denver having 6:39 of power-play time. They capitalized on two of their five total shots during that span.
Pioneer goaltender Tanner Jaillet picked up his 13th win of the season with 15 saves on the night.
The Devils and Denver meet again Saturday night at 7 p.m. MST.