Hockey Erases Three Goal Deficit, Sweeps Brown

PROVIDENCE, RI – The No. 16/15 Sun Devil Hockey team earned a, 4-3, come-from-behind win to secure the series sweep over Brown on Sunday afternoon at Meehan Auditorium.

For the first time in program history, Arizona State (13-8-3) erased a three-goal deficit and came out with a victory. A pair of crucial third period goals by Johnny Walker and the play in net Max Prawdzik off the bench helped force overtime. After receiving a great feed from Demetrios Koumontzis, Joshua Maniscalco ripped a one-timer past the goalkeeper to give the Sun Devils an overtime win and the two-game sweep.

BROWN-E POINTS FOR @JMANI_18! @TheSunDevils rally from three-goal deficit to win it in overtime! #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/CTdTt7Xtha

— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 12, 2020

"After the second period when we cut it to 3-1, we came in and said 'We haven't won a game going into the third period down or tied all year," Coach Powers described the mood in the locker room. "We knew tonight had to be the night. Our guys genuinely believed, and you could see it after the second period, that we could come back and win the game tonight and we did."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Both defenses had the advantage early in the period, as the two sides attempted to establish a physical presence.
• A big reason why the Sun Devils shut out the Bears in the first period was thanks to their disciplined play, as they stayed out of the box.
• As the period went along, Arizona State found its footing resulting in them getting the better of the scoring opportunities.
• The Maroon & Gold finished the first 20 minutes with 11 shots on goal, but couldn't convert on any chances.
• Brown came out of the break with a strong push, breaking the scoreless tie two minutes into the second period. Brown's Nathan Plessis managed to convert after receiving a cross-ice feed from James Crossman, with DeBrouwer unable to slide over in time. Brent Beaudoin added to the lead a little over a minute later, with a third goal coming from Connor Marshall that chased DeBrouwer from the game.
• Enter Max Prawdzik, who made his fifth appearance of the season midway through the second period. Prawdzik was exactly the spark the Sun Devils needed, with Coach Powers picking the right time to make a change.
• Several clutch Prawdzik saves helped the Sun Devils re-group, as they worked to regain the momentum.
• The transition game helped the Sun Devils generate a 2-on-1 opportunity, as they converted defense to offense. With Joshua Maniscalco to his left, Brinson Pasichnuk took a lead a pass from Tyler Busch and ripped a shot in the top corner and past the Brown goalkeeper to get ASU on the board midway through the second period.
• The Pasichnuk goal was exactly what the Sun Devils needed, as it pulled them within striking distance. Coach Powers and the team felt the tide starting to turn.

"We knew if we could get a quick one there in the third, that could do it."

• Johnny Walker did exactly that, as he picked off an attempted point-to-point pass by the Bears and took it the other way. Showing off a few of his moves in the process, he found the back of the net a little over a minute into the third.
• Arizona State's leading goal scorer came through when his team needed him the most, as Johnny Walker put together an excellent third period.
• Despite appearing he was contained by the opposition, Walker still found a way to get a shot on net. He utilized a defender as a screen and fired a shot that fooled the Brown goalkeeper and completely erased the 3-0 deficit.  

?? GOAL! ??@jwalks96 DOES IT AGAIN!
His second goal of the period ties the game at three!

ASU 3 | Brown 3
3rd Period – 14:28 remaining

WATCH ($): https://t.co/tnIUb21cTS pic.twitter.com/7OSugSTImz

— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) January 12, 2020

• Arizona State came close to winning the game in regulation several times, but those in attendance would be treated to some overtime hockey.
• The outstanding effort by Max Prawdzik continued during the start of overtime, as he prevented the Bears from ending the game with several spectacular saves.
• The stage was set for a game-winner, and Joshua Maniscalco delivered. After getting past several Brown defenders, Demetrios Koumontzis made an incredible past to find an open Maniscalco who made no mistake, giving the Sun Devils their first win after trailing by three goals in program history. 

GAME FACTS:

• The Sun Devils won a game in which they trailed by three goals for the first time in program history.
• Arizona State won their first game of the season when trailing after two periods, as they entered the game 0-3-1 in that scenario.
• The sweep is the first since ASU took both games from against Quinnipiac back on November 1-2. It is the second road sweep of the season, with the Sun Devils taking both games from Air Force back in October.
• Max Prawdzik finished with 18 saves in 39 minutes of action, setting a new single-game high as a Sun Devil. He picks up his second win in the Maroon & Gold and the first on the road.
• Johnny Walker has two goals and four assists during a four-game point streak. He put together his 13 career multi-goal performance of his career. He now has 28 points through his first 24 games, outpacing his total of 27 at this same point last season.
• With another two-point performance, Brinson Pasichnuk has 21 in his career. He now has two goals and two assists over his last three games.
• James Sanchez recorded an assist and now has at least one point in eight of his last ten games.
• After scoring four goals all of last season, Joshua Maniscalco has already recorded eight goals this season.

COACH'S THOUGHTS:
"It was huge, he is such a great kid," Coach Powers mentioned in reference to the play of goalkeeper Max Prawdzik. "He is an unbelievable teammate. Evan (DeBrowuer) would be the first to say what a great teammate Max has been all year. "I kept telling Max and I have been telling him for months we are going to need you at some point. You are going to have to come up big for us, so stay ready. Tonight was the night and he shut the door and helped get us a win."

"Johnny (Walker) stepped up huge," Coach Powers remarked when asked about Walker's performance. "I thought this was Johnny's best weekend of the year. He just played the right way. He is just too good of a player that when he does play the right way, good things are going to happen. Last night, he was really good for us with two nice assists. Tonight, he kind of ended his drought by his standards. It couldn't have ended at a better time. He really stepped up for us and I'm proud of him."
 
UP NEXT:
The Sun Devils return home next weekend, hosting RIT Friday, January 17th and Saturday January 18th with both games scheduled for 7:05 pm MST. The matchups with the Tigers will be broadcasted live on the ASU and Pac-12 Digital Stream.