NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Despite killing eight Yale power-plays and sophomore goaltender Joey Daccord making 43 saves, the Sun Devils couldn't escape overtime with a win in the series-opener against the Bulldogs at Ingalls Rink. It was the first overtime loss for the Sun Devils since their inaugural NCAA game against Alaska-Anchorage on Oct. 9, 2015.
ASU (7-17-5) struck early and entered the third period with a 2-1 lead, but two turnovers in the defensive zone led to the only two goals in regulation for Yale (10-11-1).
"I thought we battled pretty hard there in the last two periods," said head coach Greg Powers. "Daccord was awesome. He gave us a chance to win tonight and that's all you can ask. We had some great chances, and I thought the last two periods were pretty evenly played. Daccord got us out of the first period, and we gift-wrapped them three goals. We have to manage the puck better."
After not capitalizing on nearly four minutes of power-play time early in the first period, the Sun Devils managed to strike first just 38 seconds after the man advantage. Sophomore forward Steenn Pasichnuk played the puck off the wall, creating a 2-on-1 rush with linemate Jake Clifford. He fed a pass to Clifford who made a quick move in front and tucked it behind Yale goaltender Sam Tucker.
At the end of the first period, the penalties began to add up and Yale was on the better end of a 5-on-3 man advantage for 1:43. However, the Devils continued their success on the penalty kill and escaped unscathed.
Daccord got through the first frame with 24 saves.
A total of eight penalties were also called in the first 20 minutes of play, resulting in just 10:42 of full-strength, 5-on-5 hockey – just over half of the entire period.
In total, just 32 minutes of the 60-minute game were played 5-on-5.
"The flow of the game wasn't ideal," said Powers. "There were just so many penalties. It is what it is and we got out of them. The kill was really good."
The first of two costly turnovers occurred nine minutes into the first period. A Yale defenseman cleared the puck from behind his net along the boards, which went the length of the ice without being touched by another Bulldog, therefore should have been whistled an icing. The whistle wasn't blown, and defenseman Jakob Stridsberg centered a pass that was stolen by JM Piotrowski between the circles and snapped one past Daccord.
At the halfway point of the game, Yale had six power-play opportunities and had yet to score on one.
Late in the second period, ASU recaptured the lead on a heads-up play by junior forward Anthony Croston. He skated the puck to the near half wall and patiently waited for freshman forward Dominic Garcia crashing between the circles. He fed him a beautiful saucer pass that Garcia one-timed past Tucker for the 2-1 lead.
Early in the third period, the second turnover in the defensive zone led to a breakaway opportunity and Yale's Ryan Hitchcock buried it to knot it up for the second time.
ASU managed two more scoring chances late in the third period, but the game went to overtime.
Sophomore forward Brett Gruber, who was playing his father's alma mater, ringed one off the post. Just a minute later, with an odd-man rush into the Yale zone, a wide shot caromed around the boards and out for a 2-on-1 rush the other way for the Bulldogs. Luckily for them, it was on the tape of leading goal scorer Joe Snively, who wristed one past the glove of Daccord far-side to win the game in overtime.
ASU will have their chance at revenge on Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST.
ASU (7-17-5) struck early and entered the third period with a 2-1 lead, but two turnovers in the defensive zone led to the only two goals in regulation for Yale (10-11-1).
"I thought we battled pretty hard there in the last two periods," said head coach Greg Powers. "Daccord was awesome. He gave us a chance to win tonight and that's all you can ask. We had some great chances, and I thought the last two periods were pretty evenly played. Daccord got us out of the first period, and we gift-wrapped them three goals. We have to manage the puck better."
After not capitalizing on nearly four minutes of power-play time early in the first period, the Sun Devils managed to strike first just 38 seconds after the man advantage. Sophomore forward Steenn Pasichnuk played the puck off the wall, creating a 2-on-1 rush with linemate Jake Clifford. He fed a pass to Clifford who made a quick move in front and tucked it behind Yale goaltender Sam Tucker.
At the end of the first period, the penalties began to add up and Yale was on the better end of a 5-on-3 man advantage for 1:43. However, the Devils continued their success on the penalty kill and escaped unscathed.
Daccord got through the first frame with 24 saves.
A total of eight penalties were also called in the first 20 minutes of play, resulting in just 10:42 of full-strength, 5-on-5 hockey – just over half of the entire period.
In total, just 32 minutes of the 60-minute game were played 5-on-5.
"The flow of the game wasn't ideal," said Powers. "There were just so many penalties. It is what it is and we got out of them. The kill was really good."
The first of two costly turnovers occurred nine minutes into the first period. A Yale defenseman cleared the puck from behind his net along the boards, which went the length of the ice without being touched by another Bulldog, therefore should have been whistled an icing. The whistle wasn't blown, and defenseman Jakob Stridsberg centered a pass that was stolen by JM Piotrowski between the circles and snapped one past Daccord.
At the halfway point of the game, Yale had six power-play opportunities and had yet to score on one.
Late in the second period, ASU recaptured the lead on a heads-up play by junior forward Anthony Croston. He skated the puck to the near half wall and patiently waited for freshman forward Dominic Garcia crashing between the circles. He fed him a beautiful saucer pass that Garcia one-timed past Tucker for the 2-1 lead.
Early in the third period, the second turnover in the defensive zone led to a breakaway opportunity and Yale's Ryan Hitchcock buried it to knot it up for the second time.
ASU managed two more scoring chances late in the third period, but the game went to overtime.
Sophomore forward Brett Gruber, who was playing his father's alma mater, ringed one off the post. Just a minute later, with an odd-man rush into the Yale zone, a wide shot caromed around the boards and out for a 2-on-1 rush the other way for the Bulldogs. Luckily for them, it was on the tape of leading goal scorer Joe Snively, who wristed one past the glove of Daccord far-side to win the game in overtime.
ASU will have their chance at revenge on Saturday night at 7 p.m. EST/5 p.m. MST.