TEMPE – Following a disappointing loss to open up the season a night ago, No. 20 Sun Devil Hockey (1-1-0) bounced back as they have so many times before, claiming the series finale over the Mercyhurst Lakers (1-1-0) 6-4.
"It's a good win against a really, really tough team," said Powers. "It's always disappointing when we don't get a sweep, because that's the expectation now. We're going to put this weekend behind us and we are going to learn a ton from it."
The Devils grabbed the lead early and never looked back, potting 6 goals -- one goal shy of their season-high from a year ago (7 on Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Nebraska-Omaha).
A year after finishing second in the country in goals, junior forward Johnny Walker got back in the groove, recording four points (2G, 2A) in the win. ASU had five players in total to reach multiple points, including senior captain Brinson Pasichnuk who has back-to-back multi-point efforts to begin the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME FACTS:
"It's a good win against a really, really tough team," said Powers. "It's always disappointing when we don't get a sweep, because that's the expectation now. We're going to put this weekend behind us and we are going to learn a ton from it."
The Devils grabbed the lead early and never looked back, potting 6 goals -- one goal shy of their season-high from a year ago (7 on Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Nebraska-Omaha).
A year after finishing second in the country in goals, junior forward Johnny Walker got back in the groove, recording four points (2G, 2A) in the win. ASU had five players in total to reach multiple points, including senior captain Brinson Pasichnuk who has back-to-back multi-point efforts to begin the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After Mercyhurst took an early penalty, the Devils wasted no time getting to work as Josh Maniscalco blasted a one-timer past the Lakers netminder to put ASU up 1-0.
- The Lakers leveled things heading into the first intermission, but the Devils came out in the second period a new team. Just over a minute into the second stanza, sophomore forward Demetrios Koumontzis snapped one home on the power play to give the Devils the lead once again, a lead they would not relinquish this time around.
- James Sanchez scored his first goal as a Sun Devil just minutes later, depositing a rebound into a yearning net to double the lead. The goal marked his first NCAA goal since he scored two against the Sun Devils as a member of the Michigan Wolverines in February of 2018.
- From there, the Devils earned two more power plays, finding pay dirt on the second in the form of Walker's first goal of the young campaign.
- ASU allowed a proximate goal once again heading into the third period, but quickly made up for it with Brinson Pasichnuk's dazzling goal, which he slapped off the cross bar and in to restore the three-goal lead.
- The Lakers showed grit for the second straight game, getting it back to a one-goal contest, but the Devils stood pat this time, culminating with Walker's second goal into the vacated Mercyhurst net.
GAME FACTS:
- The Sun Devils were 3-for-9 on the man advantage, after going 0-for-5 a night ago.
- The last time ASU scored three power play goals was on Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Nebraska-Omaha.
- Both Johnny Walker and James Sanchez finished +3 for the game.
- After a year removed from NCAA play, James Sanchez scored his first collegiate goal since depositing two against the Sun Devils at the end of the 2017-18 season.
- Walker's four-point night was the first since his four-goal performance against Omaha on Oct. 27, 2018. It matches a career high for points in a game. He is now tied for first in the NCAA in overall points with five after the weekend.
- Brinson Pasichnuk finished the weekend with five points as well – tied for the NCAA lead – with two goals and three assists. He is the only defenseman in college hockey with five points.
- The Devils averaged 38 shots on goal in the opening series, after averaging 29.6 a year ago and 26.56 in 2017-18.
- ASU outshot Mercyhurst 76-44 in the series.