HAMDEN, Conn. -- The Arizona State men's ice hockey team (6-5-0) scored three unanswered goals against No. 5 Quinnipiac (8-1-2) on Friday night. The goals came from Chris Grando, Colin Theisen, and Matthew Kopperud, but a late surge from QU served ASU a loss at People's United Center. The two teams meet again tomorrow night, Saturday, November 13, at 5:00 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
Cole Brady got the start in goal for Arizona State in the first game against QU since last beating the Bobcats 4-1 at Oceanside Ice Arena in 2019. He recorded 37 saves, but the late effort from the Bobcats was enough for the 5-3 QU win.
The Sun Devils scored first on Chris Grando's goal and added an insurance goal from Colin Theisen with a man-up score just 10 seconds into a power play. The pair of goals was the most allowed in a single period of play for QU this season.
Matthew Kopperud opened up scoring early in the second period with a goal 1:14 minutes into play. The Sun Devils' third goal of the game was good for a 3-0 lead marking just the second time this season that QU allowed three goals in a game. The Bobcats got two goals back in the second, but ASU kept the lead through two periods.
The Bobcats held ASU scoreless in the third, and after five unanswered goals was able to take the lead.
Bobcat's goalie Yaniv Perets had the lowest GAA in the NCAA with his 0.74 GAA, and the third highest save percentage among goalies sitting at a .953 save percentage. Despite the Bobcats allowing the three goals, and the most in a game this season, an empty net goal gave them the cushion in a 5-3 win.
FIRST PERIOD
SECOND PERIOD
THIRD PERIOD
GAME NOTES:
Cole Brady got the start in goal for Arizona State in the first game against QU since last beating the Bobcats 4-1 at Oceanside Ice Arena in 2019. He recorded 37 saves, but the late effort from the Bobcats was enough for the 5-3 QU win.
GRANDO'S HUNGRY ??
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 13, 2021
First goal of the season for the redshirt senior #ForksUp /// @C_GRAND_3 pic.twitter.com/m61gtdQ01S
The Sun Devils scored first on Chris Grando's goal and added an insurance goal from Colin Theisen with a man-up score just 10 seconds into a power play. The pair of goals was the most allowed in a single period of play for QU this season.
"one of the top PKs in the country" okay ??#ForksUp /// @colin_theisen13 pic.twitter.com/Sq0JuZ956W
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 13, 2021
Matthew Kopperud opened up scoring early in the second period with a goal 1:14 minutes into play. The Sun Devils' third goal of the game was good for a 3-0 lead marking just the second time this season that QU allowed three goals in a game. The Bobcats got two goals back in the second, but ASU kept the lead through two periods.
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE#ForksUp /// @kopper303 pic.twitter.com/cORGTy1q32
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 13, 2021
The Bobcats held ASU scoreless in the third, and after five unanswered goals was able to take the lead.
Bobcat's goalie Yaniv Perets had the lowest GAA in the NCAA with his 0.74 GAA, and the third highest save percentage among goalies sitting at a .953 save percentage. Despite the Bobcats allowing the three goals, and the most in a game this season, an empty net goal gave them the cushion in a 5-3 win.
FIRST PERIOD
- Chris Grando got the Sun Devils on the board first with a goal 6:41 into the first. Demetrios Koumontzis and Willie Knerim were on the assist.
- Brady recorded 9 saves off of 16 shots from the Bobcats.
- The Bobcats are just 52% on the PP, and ASU killed back-to-back power plays near the end of the first period to hold Quinnipiac scoreless.
- ASU was a man up with 2:18 left in the first period, and it took just 10 seconds to find the back of the net off of a goal by Colin Theisen and an assist from Jack Becker and Matthew Kopperud.
SECOND PERIOD
- Kopperud scored 1:14 into the second period for his second point of the night and giving the Sun Devils the 3-0 lead. Sean Dhooge was credited with the assist.
- Quinnipiac got on the board 5:54 into the second period with a goal from Jayden Lee, but faced a 3-1 deficit.
- Josh Doan headed to the box for cross checking 7:16 into the second period, and Quinnipiac's PPG made it a one goal game.
- The Sun Devils had their third PK in four opportunities in the final minutes of the second period to keep the 3-2 lead.
- Brady was up to 26 saves on Quinnipiac's 43 shots.
THIRD PERIOD
- The Sun Devils had a PP 2:57 into the third period, but were unable to capitalize on the man up opportunity.
- Quinnipiac tied the game 9:56 into the third.
- At 10:16 into the third, Quinnipiac was called for interference, and the Sun Devils were a man up, but did not score.
- Quinnipiac scored the deciding goal 12:51 into the third period, and ASU pulled Brady with 1:30 to go. Quinnipiac deflected a goal into the net for an empty net goal and the 5-3 lead.
GAME NOTES:
- ASU's PK was 3-4 against Quinnipiac.
- Quinnipiac had the best PK % in the NCAA at 93.1 percent, and killed just 66.6 percent tonight.
- With two points tonight, Matthew Kopperud has 19 points, which is tied for second in the NCAA.
- Kopperud scored just his second even strength goal after seven of his previous eight were PPG.
- ASU is 2-1 in the last three games against Quinnipiac.