POTSDAM, NY -- For the first time in program history, No. 13 Sun Devil Hockey enters a two-game series where both teams are ranked in the top-15 of the national polls. As one of two top-15 showdowns in the country this weekend, No. 13 ASU (15-8-3) treks to the Canadian border to take on the defending 2019 ECAC Tournament Champions in No. 8 Clarkson (16-5-2). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (EST) / 5:30 p.m. (MST) Friday and Saturday night and streamed live on ESPN+.
The Sun Devils are riding a four-game winning streak and boasting the nation's sixth-best goals per game average over the last month (4.00), while allowing just 2.33 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have allowed the third-fewest goals against per game this season (1.87) and have the nation's best penalty kill and 12th-best power play.
"These games and every game we play from here on out have to be treated like playoff games," said head coach Greg Powers. "We've had this approach and mindset since Jan 1. It's a huge series with big opportunity. Simple, hard hockey. Whoever beats the other team at their own game will win."
SUN DEVIL REWIND
The Sun Devils are riding a season-best, four-game winning streak into enemy territory after a home sweep of RIT this past weekend. The ASU offense, which ranks 6th in the country, produced a season-high 11 goals in the two games against the Tigers.
The third line of Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Willie Knierim carried a good chunk of the load, producing 13 of the Sun Devils' 32 points in the series. A total of nine different Sun Devils recorded goals with Knierim accounting for three of them.
Linemates Johnny Walker and James Sanchez continue to sit among the top-10 point producers in the country at 6th and 7th, respectively. Walker's 15 goals has him tied for 8th (two out of the national lead) while Sanchez's 21 assists rank him 8th. Sanchez is riding a four-game point streak with two goals and two assists.
Senior forward Tyler Busch now has six assists in his last three games, with three coming in his most recent contest.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Two teams who nearly mirror each other in playing style enter this two-game series with much left to prove as they approach the final month of the regular season. Clarkson ranks as one of the stingiest defenses in the country, while ASU brings one of the highest-scoring offenses as of late.
After losing two big pieces in Mike Richter semifinalist Jake Kielly and leading scorer Nico Sturm, the Golden Knights haven't skipped a beat in 2019-20 nearly boasting the same record at this point in the season. A big catalyst for that has been Robert Morris transfer goaltender Frank Marotte, who is posting a .938 save percentage and 1.77 goals against average.
Offensively, senior forward Haralds Egle has picked up where he left off a season ago with 11 goals and 16 assists to pace the Knights offensively.
While the Knights finished 2019 on a six-game unbeaten streak, they've started 2020 4-2-0 with losses to Dartmouth and RPI.
By the Numbers
13 - The Sun Devils' third line of Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Willie Knierim combined for 13 points and a +18 rating last weekend vs. RIT.
6 - ASU's offense currently ranks 6th in the country in goals scored (85), assists (145) and total points (230).
11 - The Sun Devils' 11 goals scored this past weekend were the most they've scored in a series this season and most since Oct. 26-27, 2018 vs. Omaha.
4 - The Sun Devil offense is averaging four goals per game over their last seven contests, while allowing just 2.5 goals per game in that same span.
The Sun Devils are riding a four-game winning streak and boasting the nation's sixth-best goals per game average over the last month (4.00), while allowing just 2.33 goals per game. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have allowed the third-fewest goals against per game this season (1.87) and have the nation's best penalty kill and 12th-best power play.
"These games and every game we play from here on out have to be treated like playoff games," said head coach Greg Powers. "We've had this approach and mindset since Jan 1. It's a huge series with big opportunity. Simple, hard hockey. Whoever beats the other team at their own game will win."
SUN DEVIL REWIND
The Sun Devils are riding a season-best, four-game winning streak into enemy territory after a home sweep of RIT this past weekend. The ASU offense, which ranks 6th in the country, produced a season-high 11 goals in the two games against the Tigers.
The third line of Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Willie Knierim carried a good chunk of the load, producing 13 of the Sun Devils' 32 points in the series. A total of nine different Sun Devils recorded goals with Knierim accounting for three of them.
Linemates Johnny Walker and James Sanchez continue to sit among the top-10 point producers in the country at 6th and 7th, respectively. Walker's 15 goals has him tied for 8th (two out of the national lead) while Sanchez's 21 assists rank him 8th. Sanchez is riding a four-game point streak with two goals and two assists.
Senior forward Tyler Busch now has six assists in his last three games, with three coming in his most recent contest.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Two teams who nearly mirror each other in playing style enter this two-game series with much left to prove as they approach the final month of the regular season. Clarkson ranks as one of the stingiest defenses in the country, while ASU brings one of the highest-scoring offenses as of late.
After losing two big pieces in Mike Richter semifinalist Jake Kielly and leading scorer Nico Sturm, the Golden Knights haven't skipped a beat in 2019-20 nearly boasting the same record at this point in the season. A big catalyst for that has been Robert Morris transfer goaltender Frank Marotte, who is posting a .938 save percentage and 1.77 goals against average.
Offensively, senior forward Haralds Egle has picked up where he left off a season ago with 11 goals and 16 assists to pace the Knights offensively.
While the Knights finished 2019 on a six-game unbeaten streak, they've started 2020 4-2-0 with losses to Dartmouth and RPI.
By the Numbers
13 - The Sun Devils' third line of Tyler Busch, Brett Gruber and Willie Knierim combined for 13 points and a +18 rating last weekend vs. RIT.
6 - ASU's offense currently ranks 6th in the country in goals scored (85), assists (145) and total points (230).
11 - The Sun Devils' 11 goals scored this past weekend were the most they've scored in a series this season and most since Oct. 26-27, 2018 vs. Omaha.
4 - The Sun Devil offense is averaging four goals per game over their last seven contests, while allowing just 2.5 goals per game in that same span.