Preview by Justin Gaither & Liesl Babicka, Sun Devil Athletics' Interns
PRINCETON, N.J. – Coming off a bye week after one of the toughest road series of the season for the Arizona State hockey team, the No. 15/19 Sun Devils (10-6-0) look to get back on track as they get set to head back to the northeast to take on the Princeton Tigers (3-6-1).
The Tigers have struggled so far this season, dropping five straight, but still boast the nation's top penalty kill and second-best power play.
"They have one of the best lines, if not the best line, in the country with two of the best players in the country," said head coach Greg Powers. "They have a dynamic defenseman too so their powerplay is as good as it gets in college hockey, so we are going to have to work to contain that line and stay out of the box."
The Sun Devils' first bye week splits their season in half at 16 games into the season, making ASU the second to last team to have a bye after Miami (OH).
"We needed it," said Powers of the time off. "It was a long stretch of games for our guys. They were tired, and they finished strongly in that Saturday game."
After sitting idle for a week, sophomore forward Johnny Walker now shares the lead for goals in the country with Penn State forward Evan Barratt and will look to get some separation this weekend.
The offense as a whole will look to bounce back after being shut out in the final game in Omaha, but will have to do so in game one without junior forward Tyler Busch. The Alberta native is suspended for Friday's game due to a misconduct penalty from the previous series.
Busch had a goal and an assist the last time these two teams met in Tempe on Dec. 9, 2017, helping his team to a 4-3 overtime victory.
The Sun Devils will look to veteran leaders Brinson Pasichnuk, who had two assists in that same game, as well as Dylan Hollman and Anthony Croston to help make up for any lost offensive potency, with the three having a combined 32 points on the season.
Between the pipes, it was a 38-save effort by junior Joey Daccord in that last meeting that helped spark the Devils win over the eventual NCAA tournament-bound Tigers.
Still ranked in the top-10, the penalty kill will be integral part of the weekend for the Sun Devils.
Both games this weekend will be available on ESPN+ with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m. MST/ 7 p.m. EST both nights.
PRINCETON, N.J. – Coming off a bye week after one of the toughest road series of the season for the Arizona State hockey team, the No. 15/19 Sun Devils (10-6-0) look to get back on track as they get set to head back to the northeast to take on the Princeton Tigers (3-6-1).
The Tigers have struggled so far this season, dropping five straight, but still boast the nation's top penalty kill and second-best power play.
"They have one of the best lines, if not the best line, in the country with two of the best players in the country," said head coach Greg Powers. "They have a dynamic defenseman too so their powerplay is as good as it gets in college hockey, so we are going to have to work to contain that line and stay out of the box."
The Sun Devils' first bye week splits their season in half at 16 games into the season, making ASU the second to last team to have a bye after Miami (OH).
"We needed it," said Powers of the time off. "It was a long stretch of games for our guys. They were tired, and they finished strongly in that Saturday game."
After sitting idle for a week, sophomore forward Johnny Walker now shares the lead for goals in the country with Penn State forward Evan Barratt and will look to get some separation this weekend.
The offense as a whole will look to bounce back after being shut out in the final game in Omaha, but will have to do so in game one without junior forward Tyler Busch. The Alberta native is suspended for Friday's game due to a misconduct penalty from the previous series.
Busch had a goal and an assist the last time these two teams met in Tempe on Dec. 9, 2017, helping his team to a 4-3 overtime victory.
The Sun Devils will look to veteran leaders Brinson Pasichnuk, who had two assists in that same game, as well as Dylan Hollman and Anthony Croston to help make up for any lost offensive potency, with the three having a combined 32 points on the season.
Between the pipes, it was a 38-save effort by junior Joey Daccord in that last meeting that helped spark the Devils win over the eventual NCAA tournament-bound Tigers.
Still ranked in the top-10, the penalty kill will be integral part of the weekend for the Sun Devils.
Both games this weekend will be available on ESPN+ with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m. MST/ 7 p.m. EST both nights.