SOUTH BEND, IN -- After a sweep against the No. 14/15 Wisconsin Badgers over Thanksgiving weekend, No. 20 Sun Devil Hockey has a quick turnaround as they head to South Bend for a weekday series against the No. 13/16 Fighting Irish (2-2-0). Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. MT on both Thursday and Friday. Fans can watch the top-20 showdown on national television as the games air on NHL Network on Thursday and NBCSN on Friday.
The Sun Devils (2-3-1) look to carry over their offensive momentum into the series and even out the all-time record against the Fighting Irish (0-2-0) after losing the opening series of the 2016-17 season 9-2 and 4-2 in South Bend.
"Notre Dame is so structured. Very well-coached. They always are. Very disciplined, they aren't going to take any dumb penalties, so if you're going to be undisciplined, you're going to lose," said head coach Greg Powers. "They throw so much structure at you. If you don't have a plan and you don't have a disciplined approach to play a team this well-coached, you have no chance."
Sun Devil Rewind
Still, without the NCAA leading scorer Johnny Walker, the Sun Devils were able to generate an offensive explosion against the Badger defense, which featured many career firsts' including sophomore forward Jax Murray getting his first career point in game one and his first multi-goal game the following night. Alongside Murray, freshman forward Matthew Kopperud netted his first collegiate goal on Saturday night, but it didn't stop there; he went on to finish the series with five points (2G-3A) and lead the Sun Devils in scoring.
After only scoring two goals in the first four games, the Sun Devils proved how much talent they carry, especially in their third and fourth lines. On Saturday night, 12 different names made the Sun Devils' scoresheet, including a career-high two-goal game for junior forward Demetrios Koumontzis and a shorthanded goal from senior forward Willie Knierim, his first of the season.
Goaltending has continued to be exemplary for the Sun Devils this season, with freshman Cole Brady and junior Evan Debrouwer splitting the time in net in Wisconsin, both going (1-0-0) for the weekend. After his performance on Sunday, Debrouwer now has a .904 save percentage and 3.41 goals against average with a 1-2-0 record. Brady posted a .911 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average after the win on Saturday. His record is now 1-1-1.
Luck of the Irish?
The Fighting Irish are coming off their first wins of the season with a sweep against Michigan. Two of their top scorers have returned this season and are already making an impact. Senior forward Colin Theisen leads all returners with 25 career goals. Against Michigan, Theisen put up three goals with one assist. Joining Theisen is junior forward Alex Steeves, who led the Fighting Irish in points last season with 28. Last weekend, Steeves tallied up five points with one goal and four assists.
Through four games, Notre Dame has totaled eight goals. Only one goal came in the first period with the rest coming in the second and third.
The team welcomed freshmen forwards Landon Slaggert and Ryder Rolston, who are considered two of the country's top newcomers. Slaggert, the South Bend, Ind. native, recorded his first collegiate point during the Michigan series. After being unranked last week, Notre Dame moved back into the top 20, coming in at No. 16 in the USCHO poll and No. 13 in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.
The Sun Devils (2-3-1) look to carry over their offensive momentum into the series and even out the all-time record against the Fighting Irish (0-2-0) after losing the opening series of the 2016-17 season 9-2 and 4-2 in South Bend.
"Notre Dame is so structured. Very well-coached. They always are. Very disciplined, they aren't going to take any dumb penalties, so if you're going to be undisciplined, you're going to lose," said head coach Greg Powers. "They throw so much structure at you. If you don't have a plan and you don't have a disciplined approach to play a team this well-coached, you have no chance."
Sun Devil Rewind
Still, without the NCAA leading scorer Johnny Walker, the Sun Devils were able to generate an offensive explosion against the Badger defense, which featured many career firsts' including sophomore forward Jax Murray getting his first career point in game one and his first multi-goal game the following night. Alongside Murray, freshman forward Matthew Kopperud netted his first collegiate goal on Saturday night, but it didn't stop there; he went on to finish the series with five points (2G-3A) and lead the Sun Devils in scoring.
After only scoring two goals in the first four games, the Sun Devils proved how much talent they carry, especially in their third and fourth lines. On Saturday night, 12 different names made the Sun Devils' scoresheet, including a career-high two-goal game for junior forward Demetrios Koumontzis and a shorthanded goal from senior forward Willie Knierim, his first of the season.
Goaltending has continued to be exemplary for the Sun Devils this season, with freshman Cole Brady and junior Evan Debrouwer splitting the time in net in Wisconsin, both going (1-0-0) for the weekend. After his performance on Sunday, Debrouwer now has a .904 save percentage and 3.41 goals against average with a 1-2-0 record. Brady posted a .911 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average after the win on Saturday. His record is now 1-1-1.
Luck of the Irish?
The Fighting Irish are coming off their first wins of the season with a sweep against Michigan. Two of their top scorers have returned this season and are already making an impact. Senior forward Colin Theisen leads all returners with 25 career goals. Against Michigan, Theisen put up three goals with one assist. Joining Theisen is junior forward Alex Steeves, who led the Fighting Irish in points last season with 28. Last weekend, Steeves tallied up five points with one goal and four assists.
Through four games, Notre Dame has totaled eight goals. Only one goal came in the first period with the rest coming in the second and third.
The team welcomed freshmen forwards Landon Slaggert and Ryder Rolston, who are considered two of the country's top newcomers. Slaggert, the South Bend, Ind. native, recorded his first collegiate point during the Michigan series. After being unranked last week, Notre Dame moved back into the top 20, coming in at No. 16 in the USCHO poll and No. 13 in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.