Penalty Kill Shines in #16/15 Hockey's Win Over Brown

PROVIDENCE, RI – The No. 16/15 Sun Devil Hockey team earned a 3-1 victory over Brown on Saturday night at Meehan Auditorium.
 
Arizona State (12-8-3) relied on a stingy penalty kill and a sharp Evan DeBrouwer in net to take game one of the two-game weekend series. Two first period goals provided by James Sanchez and Jarrod Gourley proved to be the difference. A late empty net goal by Filips Buncis sealed the deal, as the Maroon & Gold pick up their first victory over Brown in program history.
 
"It was okay, we will take the road win," Head Coach Greg Powers remarked when accessing tonight's performance. "That team plays hard and they are heavy, so it is a good matchup in that regard because I think they play how we play."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Evan DeBrouwer showed signs of what would be an effective night, as the sophomore goaltender answered a few early tests from Brown.
• The Sun Devils applied pressure in their offensive end, as they attempted to set a physical tone early. Several big hits on the fore check ignited the bench and shifted the momentum in the favor of the road team.
• After Bears' forward Trey Dodd received a minor for tripping, James Sanchez (6th) capitalized on the opportunity. He cashed-in off a feed from Johnny Walker, giving the Sun Devils a 1-0 lead with 7:19 left in the first.
• It did not take long for ASU to extend its lead with Brown on their heels. Less than a minute later, Jarrod Gourley (1st) rocketed a shot past the shoulder of Brown goaltender Gavin Nieto to put his team up 2-0 only 14 minutes of the game.
• A spirited Sun Devil penalty kill would play a major role in the second period. Teaming up with Evan DeBrouwer, the unit shutout Brown's typically successful penalty kill on four chances.
• The biggest of those four kills came at the end of the second period, when a five-minute major was erased thanks to a fantastic combined effort from DeBrouwer and the PK unit.  
• Both teams were held scoreless in the second period, setting up for a hard-fought third period.
• DeBrouwer shined when it mattered most, making 14 saves in the third period. He quickly bounce back after Bears' forward Brent Beaudoin got the Browns on the board just under five minutes into the period.
• Leading by just a goal, it required a relentless effort from the Sun Devils to put the finishing touches on the victory. That is where Filips Buncis stepped in, as he found the back of an empty net to provide the cushion that Arizona State needed, as they defeated the Bears 3-1.

 
GAME FACTS:

• The Sun Devils executed an effective game plan and took away the strength of their opponent, as the Bears were 0-for-4 on the man advantage. Coming into the game, Brown had the 14th-best power play in the country, successful on 22.5% of their chances. Nine of their 24 total goals on the season came on the power play.
• Evan DeBrouwer finished with 34 saves tonight, bailing the Sun Devils out of several dangerous situations. The sophomore now has seven games with 30 or more saves this season.
• The second line of PJ Marrocco, Filips Buncis and Austin Lemieux continued their success, combing for three points (two goals, one assist) in the victory.
  • They now have 15 points in their first four games as a trio.
  • PJ Marrocco extended his point streak to four consecutive games, recording four goals and four assists over his last six games.
  • Filips Buncis recorded a goal and assist, giving him two goals and three assists over his last four games.
• Jarrod Gourley's first goal of the season and fourth of his career put Arizona State up 2-0 in the first period. The defenseman also recorded an assist, giving him his first career two-point performance.
• James Sanchez (goal) and Johnny Walker (two assists) continued to produce, each reaching the 26 point mark this season.
  • Walker's two-assist performance was his third of the season and sixth of his career. He now has 12 assists this season, a new career-high.
  • James Sanchez's tone-setting goal gives him a point in six of his last eight games.  

COACH'S THOUGHTS:
"Our penalty kill was really big tonight," Coach Powers mentioned. "Didn't like the five-minute call, but I liked how our team preserved through it and killed it off. We killed them all off and they have a good power play. I am really happy with (Evan) DeBrower tonight. He played very well."
 
"It is always great to come out here," Coach Powers said in reference to the turnout by Arizona State Alumni in the area. "We love coming out to the Northeast. The New York, New England, and Philly Sun Devil Chapters all support us so well. It was a big lift for us and hopefully they come back tomorrow."

GREAT turnout in Providence to support the.@SunDevilHockey team for the ASU Alumni!! #ForksUp #EastCoastSunDevils pic.twitter.com/fODE0ktACa

— ASU New England (@NESunDevils) January 12, 2020

Coach Powers made it clear what the key is for his team to earn a sweep. "Clean it up and stay out of the box. We had some glorious chances there to finish them off and we didn't find the back of the net. We have to play desperate tomorrow to get a sweep. That is what we haven't done on the back end when we've had those opportunities this season. We have to play desperate for 60 minutes, and if we do, they will like the result."