Recap by Justin Gaither & Liesl Babicka, Sun Devil Athletics Interns'
Tempe, Ariz. -- Coming off a dominant performance in the season opener on Saturday night, the Arizona State Sun Devils didn't skip a beat Sunday afternoon powering their way to a 5-0 win over Alaska Fairbanks.
The win clinched the Sun Devils' first home sweep in program history and simultaneously gave the club its best start, 2-0-0, since joining the Division I ranks.
The Sun Devils were lead once again by junior goaltender Joey Daccord who has been perfect through 120 minutes of hockey this season. Daccord stopped 13 of 13 shots he faced in Sunday's matinee game to blank the Nanooks for the second-straight day.
"He was really sharp and he had a couple really good saves to keep the three-goal lead," said head coach Greg Powers of Daccord's performance. "He looks like he's going to stop every puck and he's a really good veteran presence for us back there."
Along with being the first home sweep for Arizona State Hockey, it also marked the first time the Devils blanked a team in consecutive games.
Offensively, the Devils were paced once again by sophomore standout Johnny Walker, who tallied his second goal in as many games along with his first assist of the season. Walker's third period tally extended his goal streak to seven games.
"It's not really something you think about," Walker said of the streak. "You go in every night and you have to compete either way and good things will happen."
The series finale also saw another baby Devil notch his first career goal as freshman PJ Marrocco potted Anthony Croston's feed to put ASU up 3-0 in the first period.
Both co-captains -- Tyler Busch and Brinson Pasichnuk -- added goals and Jacob Wilson scored his first of the season to round out the scoring in the Devils' rout of the Nanooks. Pasichnuk, who led the team in points a season ago, now has goals in both games to start the season.
The penalty kill was effective once again, killing off all five power plays it faced and remaining perfect on the season. On the other side of the ice, the power play scored its first goal of the season in the form of Tyler Busch's tip-in power play goal to start the scoring off.
The combination of dominant performances on both offense and defense allowed Powers' squad to coast to a 5-0 victory and a series sweep.
"It was a good team win," Powers added. "We're getting production from all the guys we need it from, it's a good start to the season but that's all it is, it's a start."
Looking ahead, the Devils will be back at home next weekend when they will host No. 2/3 Ohio State. The series serves as the season-opener for the Buckeyes, who finished last year with a 26-10-5 record and a trip to the Frozen Four.
Game one will be played Friday night at 7:05 p.m. MST at Oceanside Ice Arena with game two coming Saturday night also at 7:05 p.m. MST. Limited tickets remain at the Sun Devil ticket office, online or by calling 480-727-0000.
Tempe, Ariz. -- Coming off a dominant performance in the season opener on Saturday night, the Arizona State Sun Devils didn't skip a beat Sunday afternoon powering their way to a 5-0 win over Alaska Fairbanks.
The win clinched the Sun Devils' first home sweep in program history and simultaneously gave the club its best start, 2-0-0, since joining the Division I ranks.
The Sun Devils were lead once again by junior goaltender Joey Daccord who has been perfect through 120 minutes of hockey this season. Daccord stopped 13 of 13 shots he faced in Sunday's matinee game to blank the Nanooks for the second-straight day.
"He was really sharp and he had a couple really good saves to keep the three-goal lead," said head coach Greg Powers of Daccord's performance. "He looks like he's going to stop every puck and he's a really good veteran presence for us back there."
.@JDac35 now with more shutouts in last two games than last two seasons! ???????? pic.twitter.com/m36pDGgrCY
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 8, 2018
Along with being the first home sweep for Arizona State Hockey, it also marked the first time the Devils blanked a team in consecutive games.
Offensively, the Devils were paced once again by sophomore standout Johnny Walker, who tallied his second goal in as many games along with his first assist of the season. Walker's third period tally extended his goal streak to seven games.
"It's not really something you think about," Walker said of the streak. "You go in every night and you have to compete either way and good things will happen."
??GOAL! ??
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 8, 2018
The streak continues to seven-straight games dating back to last season! @jwalks96 found in the slot & he buries it for the 5-0 lead! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/BZ17aYNV6i
The series finale also saw another baby Devil notch his first career goal as freshman PJ Marrocco potted Anthony Croston's feed to put ASU up 3-0 in the first period.
Both co-captains -- Tyler Busch and Brinson Pasichnuk -- added goals and Jacob Wilson scored his first of the season to round out the scoring in the Devils' rout of the Nanooks. Pasichnuk, who led the team in points a season ago, now has goals in both games to start the season.
The penalty kill was effective once again, killing off all five power plays it faced and remaining perfect on the season. On the other side of the ice, the power play scored its first goal of the season in the form of Tyler Busch's tip-in power play goal to start the scoring off.
The combination of dominant performances on both offense and defense allowed Powers' squad to coast to a 5-0 victory and a series sweep.
"It was a good team win," Powers added. "We're getting production from all the guys we need it from, it's a good start to the season but that's all it is, it's a start."
2-0 for the first time in program history, and @TheSunDevils first-ever home sweep! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/sWPcTYogpN
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 8, 2018
Looking ahead, the Devils will be back at home next weekend when they will host No. 2/3 Ohio State. The series serves as the season-opener for the Buckeyes, who finished last year with a 26-10-5 record and a trip to the Frozen Four.
Game one will be played Friday night at 7:05 p.m. MST at Oceanside Ice Arena with game two coming Saturday night also at 7:05 p.m. MST. Limited tickets remain at the Sun Devil ticket office, online or by calling 480-727-0000.