#17 Hockey Explodes Early in 4-3 Win over Michigan Tech

RECAP BY LIESL BABICKA, SUN DEVIL ATHLETICS INTERN
TEMPE, Ariz. -- No. 17 Sun Devil Hockey broke out to a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes, and withstood Michigan Tech's late push for a 4-3 win in the first game of 2020 at Oceanside Ice Arena. ASU (11-7-3) ended the Huskies' (12-9-1) winning streak coming out of the Great Lakes Invitational championship and handed them just their third loss in Michigan Tech's last 13 games.

Sun Devil forward PJ Marrocco captured his second-straight one-goal, one-assist performance while junior forward Filips Buncis ended up with the game-winner on his second goal of the season. The second line of Marrocco, Buncis and redshirt sophomore Austin Lemieux has combined for 11 points in their last two games together.

"It's been awesome as the last two games they have been tremendous," said head coach Greg Powers of the second line. "They are the reason we came back and tied Harvard, and tonight, they are probably the reason we won this game. I thought every line did something really well tonight, but this line compliments themselves really well."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Five minutes into the first period, the Sun Devils capitalized on a 2-on-1 breakout as Tyler Busch found Willie Knierim for a blast top shelf giving ASU a 1-0 lead.
• Coming off a successful penalty kill, Austin Lemieux found PJ Marrocco across ice on a beautiful read and pass to extend the lead to 2-0.
• Feeding off the first intermission, sophomore forward Jordan Sandhu received a silky pass from linemate James Sanchez and sniped the puck through a screen past Husky netminder Matt Jurusik to make it 3-0 in the 2nd frame.
• In the third period, the Huskies began to crawl back as Brian Halonen was found off a pass from Alex Smith off the boards behind the net. He tucked it behind DeBrouwer for their first.
• The Sun Devils weren't going to back down, as Marrocco dumped a pass deep that ricocheted off the end wall and to forward Filips Buncis, who fired a quick shot from the goal line that squeezed between the Husky netminder and the post.
• While on the power play, Michigan Tech scored off the faceoff as a quick pass found the stick of Alec Broetzman who walked in front and beat DeBrouwer glove side to cut their deficit back to two goals.
• With 2:46 remaining, the Huskies made it interesting as the Sun Devils weren't able to get the puck out and a tic-tac-toe pass found Justin Misiak in the right corner for a quick shot, making it a one-goal game.
• With an empty net, the Sun Devils were able to fend off the Huskies in the final minute for the win.

GAME FACTS:

• ASU is now 3-1-0 against the 2019 Great Lakes Invitational champions in their four overall meetings.
• The Sun Devils are 6-1-2 at home this season and haven't lost on home ice since their season-opening setback to Mercyhurst.
• Over the last two games, the second line combination of PJ Marrocco, Filips Buncis and Austin Lemieux have combined for 11 points (4 G, 7 A).
• Senior captain Brinson Pasichnuk blocked six shots, and now has 46 on the season which is best on the team and the second-most in the NCAA (Matt Hellickson/ND, 49).
• Austin Lemieux recorded his second consecutive multi-point performance (2a) and the fifth of his career.
• With four goals tonight, it marked just the third time Michigan Tech has allowed more than three goals this season (last: Dec. 14, 2019 vs. Clarkson).
• The Sun Devils have scored four or more goals in four of their last five contests.
• ASU is averaging  just over 3.5 goals/per game over their last 15 games.
• The Sun Devils are on an eight-game home unbeaten streak.
  • Longest since 10 in a row from Oct. 26, 2018 to Feb. 16, 2019