MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A litter of penalties, missed opportunities and the University of Minnesota capitalizing on their chances made for a bitter first meeting for the No. 12/11 Sun Devils at 3M Arena at Marriucci.
After a fast start and early 1-0 lead for ASU (21-11-1), the Sun Devils played shorthanded for nearly a third of the final 50 minutes and accounted for all nine of the penalties called in the final 30 minutes.
"I'm embarrassed by the effort and lack of discipline because I know our players have it in them to represent ASU much better than we did tonight," said head coach Greg Powers.
Less than four minutes into the game, sophomore forward Dominic Garcia fed a beautiful, no-look backhanded pass from behind the net to senior forward Jake Clifford for the 1-0 lead.
With nearly the same time remaining on the clock in the first period, Golden Gopher (15-15-4) forward Sammy Walker worked his way in front of the net before backhanding a shot that beat the glove of junior netminder Joey Daccord far side.
It was all Minnesota from there, as they rattled off the final five goals in a 5-1 victory. Two of those – both the final goals of the night – coming on the power play.
ASU played a man down for over half of the third period with over three minutes down to 5-on-3. Both power play tallies for the Gophers came during the 5-on-3 advantage.
Despite the deficit, Daccord posted 37 saves and stood on his head to keep the game close throughout the first two periods.
Of the 42 shots on goal by the Gophers, nearly half (20) came during their 10 power play chances. The Devils penalty kill beat eight of those chances.
ASU remained at No. 8 in the all-important pairwise rankings despite the loss, and will wrap up the regular season Saturday night with a grudge match.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Fox Sports North-Plus. The game can also be watched on the BTN Go App.
After a fast start and early 1-0 lead for ASU (21-11-1), the Sun Devils played shorthanded for nearly a third of the final 50 minutes and accounted for all nine of the penalties called in the final 30 minutes.
"I'm embarrassed by the effort and lack of discipline because I know our players have it in them to represent ASU much better than we did tonight," said head coach Greg Powers.
Less than four minutes into the game, sophomore forward Dominic Garcia fed a beautiful, no-look backhanded pass from behind the net to senior forward Jake Clifford for the 1-0 lead.
With nearly the same time remaining on the clock in the first period, Golden Gopher (15-15-4) forward Sammy Walker worked his way in front of the net before backhanding a shot that beat the glove of junior netminder Joey Daccord far side.
It was all Minnesota from there, as they rattled off the final five goals in a 5-1 victory. Two of those – both the final goals of the night – coming on the power play.
ASU played a man down for over half of the third period with over three minutes down to 5-on-3. Both power play tallies for the Gophers came during the 5-on-3 advantage.
Despite the deficit, Daccord posted 37 saves and stood on his head to keep the game close throughout the first two periods.
Of the 42 shots on goal by the Gophers, nearly half (20) came during their 10 power play chances. The Devils penalty kill beat eight of those chances.
ASU remained at No. 8 in the all-important pairwise rankings despite the loss, and will wrap up the regular season Saturday night with a grudge match.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Fox Sports North-Plus. The game can also be watched on the BTN Go App.