TEMPE, Ariz. -- After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first 30 minutes Friday night, No. 12 Sun Devil Hockey fought off Robert Morris en route to a 3-2 victory for their third-straight win at Oceanside Ice Arena.
Sun Devil (17-9-3) netminder Evan DeBrouwer came up with several crucial saves down the stretch, while junior forward Willie Knierim potted two goals for his fifth in as many games.
"I thought it was really impressive how that team played after getting down three, and we had some really glorious chances to go up four or five on them and put the game away but we didn't," said head coach Greg Powers. "We fell asleep on d-zone faceoff and let them get back in the game. It was an impressive push by them."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sun Devil (17-9-3) netminder Evan DeBrouwer came up with several crucial saves down the stretch, while junior forward Willie Knierim potted two goals for his fifth in as many games.
"I thought it was really impressive how that team played after getting down three, and we had some really glorious chances to go up four or five on them and put the game away but we didn't," said head coach Greg Powers. "We fell asleep on d-zone faceoff and let them get back in the game. It was an impressive push by them."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After constant pressure out of the gate, the Sun Devils finally got on the board halfway through the 1st period as Brinson Pasichnuk ripped a shot from the top of the slot that found its way through traffic and in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
- Early in the 2nd period, Knierim netted his first of the night off a beautiful centering pass from senior forward Brett Gruber in front.
- Just five minutes later, and on the power play, Knierim tipped home his 12th of the season for the 3-0 lead.
- With five minutes and change left in the 2nd period, Nick Lalonde buried one of the few juicy rebounds given up by DeBrouwer all night to cut it to 3-1.
- Halfway through the 3rd, the Colonials cut it to a one-goal game as Luke Lynch buried a wrister from the right circle that beat DeBrouwer far side.
- James Sanchez owns the program record for assists in a single season (23), topping Brett Gruber's previous record of 20 in 2017-18.
- Sanchez's 32 points are also two shy of Johnny Walker's program-best 34 in 2018-19.
- Willie Knierim has a seven-game point streak at home, tallying 10 points (7 G, 3 A) in that time.
- Knierim has recorded multiple goals in back-to-back home games and has eight points in his last six games overall.
- The Devils recorded two goals on the power play, both by the top unit, their first game with multiple goals on the man advantage since Nov. 29, 2019 vs. Vermont (also: 2).
- ASU moves to 9-2-2 at home this season and 9-2-1 at Oceanside Ice Arena. They are 18-2-1 at Oceanside dating back to Oct. 26, 2018.
- The Sun Devils are 11-1-1 in their last 13 games against Atlantic Hockey with a +28 differential in that stretch.
- Brinson Pasichnuk has recorded multi-point efforts in five of his last eight games (3 G, 7 A) and has nine on the season overall.
- The penalty kill has successfully negated 24 consecutive opposing power play opportunities dating back to Jan. 5 vs. Michigan Tech.
- ASU moves to 7-3-0-2 in one-goal contests.
- The Sun Devils have now gone 23 consecutive home games with at least two goals dating back to Oct. 13, 2018.