TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ring the bell! The Arizona State men's ice hockey team silenced UMass-Lowell, 4-0, on Saturday night in their first home shutout win at Oceanside Ice Arena this season.
The Sun Devils (7-13-4) showcased a grade-A effort on both ends of the ice, blocking 22 shots from UMass-Lowell (13-10-0) in addition to offensively dominating the middle frame. ASU netminder Joey Daccord made a mark in his own history book, collecting his first-ever collegiate shutout with 28 saves.
"I think it was the best 60-minute effort we've had since we've been Division I," said head coach Greg Powers. "That's a huge win for our program over one of the top programs in the country."
DEVILS WIN! DEVILS WIN!
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 14, 2018
First shutout win in our barn this season! ?? pic.twitter.com/4zx4TgqRLm
At the start of the first, ASU immediately killed UML's power-play, setting a precedent of what was to follow as the Devils went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill throughout the night.
ASU spent six of the next fifteen minutes on three of their own 5-on-4 advantages. Two seconds after UML returned to full strength, defenseman Joey Raats one-timed it past netminder Chris Hernberg to put the Devils on the scoreboard with just 52 seconds left in the first.
The Sun Devils set out to maintain the momentum as freshman Dominic Garcia sacrificed his body to block a UML shot that allowed Johnny Walker to score a breakaway goal just five minutes into the second period.
What a beaut! Walker steals a breakaway goal with assists from Garcia and B. Pasichnuk.
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 14, 2018
US 2 - 0 THEM pic.twitter.com/0FsBbGxufO
But Walker wasn't done yet. Merely three minutes later he hit the back of the net for the second time, for his first multiple goal game of his collegiate career.
As the second period was closing out, Tyler Busch blasted a shot from just inside the blue line. Busch's shot caromed off of Anthony Croston and redshirt senior David Norris and then landed in the back of the net. The goal was credited to Norris which is his fourth of the season.
ASU last collected a shutout win on home turf almost a year ago to date against Southern New Hampshire, 11-0.
The River Hawks attempted to rally in the third, sending 13 shots toward Daccord in the final 20 minutes to no avail.
"I think the D and the forwards too did an unbelievable job blocking shots," said Daccord. "I think that was one of our lowest shot totals against all year. When they make my life easier, it definitely helps a lot."
The Devils blocked 22 shots, including 3 blocks each from defensemen Garcia, Jakob Stridsberg, Joey Raats and Gvido Jansons.
"We went into tonight talking about how we're 2-1 (since January 1st)," said Walker. "That's a good record, we're above .500. Just turning the page and focusing on tonight and making sure that we use our home ice advantage that we have here."
The Sun Devils continue their home ice advantage next weekend, Friday, January 19th, versus Quinnipiac at Oceanside Ice Arena. Tickets can be purchased here.