TEMPE, Ariz. – The Sun Devils dueled with the No. 18 Golden Knights, completing a 4-3 victory with an indulgent second period that showcased four unanswered goals. The Arizona State men's ice hockey team performance was punctuated by 33 saves from Ben Kraws after another start in net.
Clarkson (9-5-3) broke the scoring drought first early in the second period, but it did little to control the scoring flood from ASU (8-9-0), who sported its desert storm uniforms on Friday night at Oceanside Ice Arena.
Goals from Chris Grando, Jack Jensen, Ryan O'Reilly, and Colin Theisen dazzled all - including the Golden Knights, who couldn't disrupt the scoring show. The scoring onslaught forced Clarkson's bench bosses to pull 5th round draft pick, Ethan Haider, from the game at the 32-minute mark - it's the first time he's been chased out of the arena this season.
GOAL SUMMARY
2nd Period
03:02 CGK (0-1): Chris Klack scored on even strength to take the lead first
06:10 ASU (1-1): Chris Grando capitalized on a rebounded shot by Ryan O'Reilly with a back door goal from the left circle.
10:25 ASU (2-1): Benji Eckerle cradled the puck along the far boards behind the net and sent a pass through traffic to the crease where Jack Jensen tapped the puck under the outstretched leg of Clarkson's goalie to take the lead
11:04 ASU (3-1): From the top of the circle, where he assisted on ASU's opening goal, Ryan O'Reilly flashed a shot over the far shoulder of the Golden Knights goalie to extend ASU's lead a mere 31 seconds later
12:18 ASU (4-1): Tim Theocharidis took a giant shot from the blue line that the Clarkson netminder couldn't control as the puck dropped in the crease. Colin Theisen shoved the puck around the post for another Sun Devil goal.
3rd Period
00:25 CGK (4-2): Michael Underwood brings Clarkson within two to start the third period.
19:34 CGK (4-3): Mathieu Gosselin closes the gap on the Sun Devils, but it's too late
GAME NOTES
QUOTES
Head Coach Greg Powers
On the win:
"It was great, it was great to see, it was great to feel that again at Oceanside. That's how we want we want to play, just downhill. They come in bunches and when we're playing the right way like that and putting pucks on net."
On the scruffle after the game:
"The kid shot the puck after the whistle. You don't do that. It was a long time after the whistle."On what to change for tomorrow:
"We played well, it's a really good team we just beat. I told the guys we were good. Tomorrow, to win, we're going to have to be even better. They're going to want to get a win coming all the way out here. They've been out here since Tuesday, so we're probably going to get their very best tomorrow. We're going to have to show them ours if we're going to sweep them."
On Ben Kraws:
"He was solid. I didn't like the first and second goals though. But we found a way and he made some saves when he had to and we got a win. That's all we can ask out of our goalies, to put us in a position to win and he did."
On 3 of the 4 goals coming from bottom-six forwards:
"These guys, when they're going like they have been, they're not bottom six, it's just listed that way on a line chart. Mancinelli and these two (O'Reilly and Grando), they're a top line for a lot of teams, probably any team, in the country. The three of them are that good when they're going like they're going. We just have to figure out a way to keep going like they're going."
Chris Grando
On taking a big hit early:
"Honestly, I can't even recall the hit you're talking about. Just get up and keep going. That's the mentality."On getting two back to back goals on a good defense:
"I think that the second period was a lot of fun for us. I think we have to replicate that for 60 minutes tomorrow." Ryan O'Reilly
On his thoughts before taking the shot:
"Their goalie was pretty shaky all night. Grando got that one goal, so I thought would pick his corner and take the shot and it ended up working out good."On beating a ranked team:
"I think it gives us a lot of confidence. I think our lines have been going pretty well these last few weeks. Going into tomorrow we're going to have to play the same way."
Clarkson (9-5-3) broke the scoring drought first early in the second period, but it did little to control the scoring flood from ASU (8-9-0), who sported its desert storm uniforms on Friday night at Oceanside Ice Arena.
Goals from Chris Grando, Jack Jensen, Ryan O'Reilly, and Colin Theisen dazzled all - including the Golden Knights, who couldn't disrupt the scoring show. The scoring onslaught forced Clarkson's bench bosses to pull 5th round draft pick, Ethan Haider, from the game at the 32-minute mark - it's the first time he's been chased out of the arena this season.
HOW SWEET IT IS pic.twitter.com/QIPtKsDfyP
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 11, 2021
GOAL SUMMARY
2nd Period
03:02 CGK (0-1): Chris Klack scored on even strength to take the lead first
06:10 ASU (1-1): Chris Grando capitalized on a rebounded shot by Ryan O'Reilly with a back door goal from the left circle.
10:25 ASU (2-1): Benji Eckerle cradled the puck along the far boards behind the net and sent a pass through traffic to the crease where Jack Jensen tapped the puck under the outstretched leg of Clarkson's goalie to take the lead
11:04 ASU (3-1): From the top of the circle, where he assisted on ASU's opening goal, Ryan O'Reilly flashed a shot over the far shoulder of the Golden Knights goalie to extend ASU's lead a mere 31 seconds later
12:18 ASU (4-1): Tim Theocharidis took a giant shot from the blue line that the Clarkson netminder couldn't control as the puck dropped in the crease. Colin Theisen shoved the puck around the post for another Sun Devil goal.
3rd Period
00:25 CGK (4-2): Michael Underwood brings Clarkson within two to start the third period.
19:34 CGK (4-3): Mathieu Gosselin closes the gap on the Sun Devils, but it's too late
GAME NOTES
- Michael Mancinelli is on a three-game point-scoring streak with an assist tonight
- Ben Kraws made his ninth start this season
- Ryan O'Reilly enjoyed a two-point night (1G, 1A) to boast three points in the last two games.
- Matthew Kopperud still leads the ASU point scorers with 22, but Colin Theisen is closing the gap after another goal tonight pushed him to 20 points on the season.
- It's the second win over a ranked team for the Sun Devils, who defeated No. 20 Bemidji State over Thanksgiving weekend.
BIG saves from Kraw Daddy and we're back at full strength ?? pic.twitter.com/A1sVDn4XnO
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 11, 2021
QUOTES
Head Coach Greg Powers
On the win:
"It was great, it was great to see, it was great to feel that again at Oceanside. That's how we want we want to play, just downhill. They come in bunches and when we're playing the right way like that and putting pucks on net."
On the scruffle after the game:
"The kid shot the puck after the whistle. You don't do that. It was a long time after the whistle."On what to change for tomorrow:
"We played well, it's a really good team we just beat. I told the guys we were good. Tomorrow, to win, we're going to have to be even better. They're going to want to get a win coming all the way out here. They've been out here since Tuesday, so we're probably going to get their very best tomorrow. We're going to have to show them ours if we're going to sweep them."
On Ben Kraws:
"He was solid. I didn't like the first and second goals though. But we found a way and he made some saves when he had to and we got a win. That's all we can ask out of our goalies, to put us in a position to win and he did."
On 3 of the 4 goals coming from bottom-six forwards:
"These guys, when they're going like they have been, they're not bottom six, it's just listed that way on a line chart. Mancinelli and these two (O'Reilly and Grando), they're a top line for a lot of teams, probably any team, in the country. The three of them are that good when they're going like they're going. We just have to figure out a way to keep going like they're going."
Chris Grando
On taking a big hit early:
"Honestly, I can't even recall the hit you're talking about. Just get up and keep going. That's the mentality."On getting two back to back goals on a good defense:
"I think that the second period was a lot of fun for us. I think we have to replicate that for 60 minutes tomorrow." Ryan O'Reilly
On his thoughts before taking the shot:
"Their goalie was pretty shaky all night. Grando got that one goal, so I thought would pick his corner and take the shot and it ended up working out good."On beating a ranked team:
"I think it gives us a lot of confidence. I think our lines have been going pretty well these last few weeks. Going into tomorrow we're going to have to play the same way."