Walker, Knierim Net Two for Series Sweep of Robert Morris

TEMPE, Ariz. -- With four unanswered goals in the second period and two powerplay tallies from junior forward Johnny Walker, the No. 12 Sun Devils skated away with a 5-4 win over Robert Morris for the series sweep. It's the seventh win in the last eight games, and pushes the Sun Devils to No. 8 in the Pairwise rankings.

ASU finished three-for-four on the powerplay, while senior co-captains Tyler Busch and Brinson Pasichnuk each recorded another multi-point performance. 

"That was a fun game to watch for us and the fans with a lot of goals," said head coach Greg Powers. "I like how our guys responded, just like last night they didn't go away and we have to respect that because Robert Morris plays hard. They came out and punched us in the mouth in the second, but our guys hit back by scoring four goals."

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Two minutes into the 1st period, the Sun Devils went on the man advantage and Walker netted his first of the night, punching in a rebound off the shot of Josh Maniscalco. 
• The remainder of the 1st period went scoreless, and 33 seconds into the 2nd, RMU found themselves in a tie with the Sun Devils for the first time in the series.
• Then 21 seconds later, forward Nick Prkusic gave the Colonials their first lead of the series.
• Nearly six minutes later, Brinson Pasichnuk picked up his sixth goal of the season with a power-play tally while on the 5-on-3.
• A minute after Brinson's goal, and while still on the powerplay, Walker tipped home his second of the night and his 17th of the season.
• Thirty-nine seconds later, Gvido Jansons scored his first goal of the season and first in 364 days with a one-timer off a pass from Brett Gruber to make it 4-2. 
• For good measure, three minutes and 20 seconds later, Willie Knierim scored his 13th of the season and sixth in as many games to make it 5-2 -- and the eventual game-winner.
• Robert Morris closed out the second period with another goal from Brkusic to cut  the game to 5-3.
• Coming off the second intermission, the Colonials fought back with a goal from Brendon Michaelian to cut the Sun Devil lead to one. However, ASU held the Colonials off for the rest of the period to capture the 5-4 win.

GAME FACTS: 

• ASU moves to 10-2-2 at home this season and 10-2-1 at Oceanside Ice Arena. They are 19-2-1 at Oceanside dating back to Oct. 26, 2018.
• The Sun Devils are 12-1-1 in their last 14 games against Atlantic Hockey with a +29 differential in that stretch.
• Brinson Pasichnuk recorded his third consecutive multi-point effort and his sixth in the last nine contests overall (3 G, 9 A).
  • His 28 points are two shy of his career high (30 in 2018-19) and the fourth-most in the country among defensemen.
• Johnny Walker notched his fourth multi-goal effort of the season and the first since tallying two on Jan. 12 @ Brown.
  • Walker snapped a four-game scoreless drought tonight, the longest of his career since going six straight games without a point from Oct. 14-Nov. 4, 2017.
• Willie Knierim's two-goal night was his second consecutive two-goal night. He now has seven goals in the last six games.
• Joshua Maniscalco matched a career high with three points (3 assists).
  • He has 10 points in his last 7 games.
• This weekend's wins marked the Devils' second consecutive home sweep and third on the season overall.
• Tyler Busch earned a game-winning assist, good for his third in the last four home games.
  • The senior captain has had multiple points in four of his last six contests.
• The Devils' power play scored three more goals, their most in a single game since doing so on Oct. 6, 2019 vs. Mercyhurst.
  • Five goals on the man advantage were the most in a series since potting seven vs. Omaha on Oct. 26-27, 2018.
• Gvido Jansons scored his first goal in 364 days, with his last one coming on Feb. 2, 2019 @ RIT.
• The penalty kill has successfully negated 25 consecutive opposing power play opportunities dating back to Jan. 5 vs. Michigan Tech.
• ASU moves to 8-3-0-2 in one-goal contests.