Recap by Justin Gaither & Liesl Babicka, Sun Devil Athletics' Interns
TEMPE, Ariz. -- After a historic start to the 2018-19 season, the Arizona State Sun Devils (15-7-1) carried that success over into 2019 with a come-from-behind win over Boston College (6-8-2) for their seventh-straight win at home.
Riding the coattails of a 2-2 tie (shootout win) against No. 3 Minnesota State-Mankato that saw the Sun Devils tie things up late, they continued their trend for the dramatic flair through the new year. With 1:38 left in the game, and knotted at 2, freshman forward PJ Marrocco punched in a loose puck for the eventual game-winning goal followed by two empty-net goals for the 5-2 victory.
As many of ASU's contests have gone so far, the game got off to a slow start with neither team beating the goalies -- or the posts -- in a 0-0 score through 20 minutes.
It went back and forth in the middle frame, as a near miss on one end of the ice for the Sun Devils resulted in Boston College taking the lead on the other.
That lead didn't last long, however, as senior forward Dylan Hollman pick-pocketed a Boston College skater two minutes later and beat Eagle netminder Joseph Woll for a shorthanded goal to tie the game at 1.
Three minutes later, BC answered again with a shot through traffic that beat junior goaltender Joey Daccord.
As he has all season, Daccord stood on his head, stopping all 11 Boston College shots in the third period -- and 35 overall -- to help keep ASU in the game.
Nearly halfway through the final frame, it was senior leader and alternate captain Anthony Croston who won a puck battle behind the net and deposited a wrap-around goal to knot the game up at two.
"I'm kind of speechless," said Marrocco of the goal. "It was a hard working shift. I blacked out there for a little bit there just going to the net and I was watching [Croston] and Hollman all night go to the net and I did the dirty work all around and it was a speechless kind of moment."
Croston and freshman defenseman Jarrod Gourley both added empty-net goals for a 5-2 final.
The penalty kill was back on track, not only killing the only power play BC had, but scoring a goal of their own to tie the game in the 2nd.
"They did a great job and the kill has been great for us all year," said Powers. "You can create momentum for yourself in a really good penalty kill."
With game one in the books, the team's head west for the series finale tomorrow night at Gila River Arena in Glendale. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Network and tickets are still available at https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/tickets/asu-hockey.
TEMPE, Ariz. -- After a historic start to the 2018-19 season, the Arizona State Sun Devils (15-7-1) carried that success over into 2019 with a come-from-behind win over Boston College (6-8-2) for their seventh-straight win at home.
Riding the coattails of a 2-2 tie (shootout win) against No. 3 Minnesota State-Mankato that saw the Sun Devils tie things up late, they continued their trend for the dramatic flair through the new year. With 1:38 left in the game, and knotted at 2, freshman forward PJ Marrocco punched in a loose puck for the eventual game-winning goal followed by two empty-net goals for the 5-2 victory.
"We were playing really well and they played well too," said head coach Greg Powers. "We could've run away with that game, but we had four pipes through two periods and it just wasn't going in for us … [Croston] got a dirty one for us and then PJ got the game winner and it was a heck of a win."CLEAN. UP. THE. TRASH.
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 5, 2019
The game-winner from @peej_97! pic.twitter.com/BOJqeiGLia
As many of ASU's contests have gone so far, the game got off to a slow start with neither team beating the goalies -- or the posts -- in a 0-0 score through 20 minutes.
It went back and forth in the middle frame, as a near miss on one end of the ice for the Sun Devils resulted in Boston College taking the lead on the other.
That lead didn't last long, however, as senior forward Dylan Hollman pick-pocketed a Boston College skater two minutes later and beat Eagle netminder Joseph Woll for a shorthanded goal to tie the game at 1.
Three minutes later, BC answered again with a shot through traffic that beat junior goaltender Joey Daccord.
As he has all season, Daccord stood on his head, stopping all 11 Boston College shots in the third period -- and 35 overall -- to help keep ASU in the game.
Nearly halfway through the final frame, it was senior leader and alternate captain Anthony Croston who won a puck battle behind the net and deposited a wrap-around goal to knot the game up at two.
The game was deadlocked for the next 10 minutes before freshman forward PJ Marrocco pounced on a loose rebound in front to give ASU the lead in the waning minutes.Croston put his hard hat on and went to work! ?? pic.twitter.com/YGOPzItd8T
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 5, 2019
"I'm kind of speechless," said Marrocco of the goal. "It was a hard working shift. I blacked out there for a little bit there just going to the net and I was watching [Croston] and Hollman all night go to the net and I did the dirty work all around and it was a speechless kind of moment."
Croston and freshman defenseman Jarrod Gourley both added empty-net goals for a 5-2 final.
The penalty kill was back on track, not only killing the only power play BC had, but scoring a goal of their own to tie the game in the 2nd.
"They did a great job and the kill has been great for us all year," said Powers. "You can create momentum for yourself in a really good penalty kill."
With game one in the books, the team's head west for the series finale tomorrow night at Gila River Arena in Glendale. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. MST on Pac-12 Network and tickets are still available at https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/tickets/asu-hockey.