DURHAM, NH – TJ Semptimphelter and a Sun Devil offensive surge in the third period sealed the 4-1 road win for the Arizona State ice hockey team (9-9-0) over the University of New Hampshire (3-14-1) on Friday night. Semptimphelter made 41 saves and the penalty kill squad played a perfect game with five kills including a shorthanded goal by Josh Doan at Whittemore Center Arena. The win keeps ASU undefeated against UNH in all-time program history.
TJ Semptimphelter made his 18th consecutive start between the pipes against the Wildcats. By the second period, the sophomore already made the "save of the night" to protect the Sun Devils' lead. He made 16 saves in the first period followed by another 15 in the second to complete the night with 41 saves.
The Sun Devil penalty kill squad stopped all five man-advantages for the Wildcats to move up from the 25th spot to 18th in the nation with a 83.6 percent success rate.
ASU looks to complete its first road sweep of the season tomorrow at New Hampshire starting at 2 p.m. MST on ESPN+
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
Second Period
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
TJ Semptimphelter made his 18th consecutive start between the pipes against the Wildcats. By the second period, the sophomore already made the "save of the night" to protect the Sun Devils' lead. He made 16 saves in the first period followed by another 15 in the second to complete the night with 41 saves.
SAVE OF THE NIGHT ??@tsemp35 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/g28SrmAdVi
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 10, 2022
The Sun Devil penalty kill squad stopped all five man-advantages for the Wildcats to move up from the 25th spot to 18th in the nation with a 83.6 percent success rate.
ASU looks to complete its first road sweep of the season tomorrow at New Hampshire starting at 2 p.m. MST on ESPN+
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Period
- ASU's power play squad returned to its converting ways just five minutes into play with a back door goal from junior forward Matthew Kopperud. He was assisted by senior forward Robert Mastrosimone and Lukas Sillinger.
- The Sun Devils' special teams started off hot: the power play squad notched a goal and the penalty kill group stifled two Wildcat man-advantage opportunities.
- ASU was outshot 16-9 in the first 20 minutes.
SNEAK ATTACK ??@kopper303 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/Kf9O2hKZzt
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 10, 2022
Second Period
- ASU killed off its third penalty of the game (Ryan O'Reilly, hooking) to start the middle frame. They would end the frame successfully killing their fourth penalty (Jack Judson, holding) to stay perfect on the penalty kill.
- The Sun Devils went on their third power play of the night at 12:40 into the second period but were unable to capitalize.
- Semptimphelter made 15 saves as ASU was outshot 31-15 through both periods combined.
- The Sun Devils and Wildcats exchanged goals in the final frame of regulation, just a little more than two minutes apart near the halfway point of the period.
- Jack Judson scored his third goal of the season after carrying the puck through the neutral zone and throwing it on net to an seemingly unsuspecting UNH goaltender. He was assisted by graduate forwards Chris Grando and Demetrios Koumontzis.
DON'T SLEEP ON TOONIES ??@kingtoonies /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/hRS8tJUAaK
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 10, 2022
- Josh Doan answered back five minutes after the Wildcat goal to score an unassisted shorthanded goal - ASU's second of the season - to push the score to 3-1.
- Lukas Sillinger put the final nail in the coffin with an empty net goal with 23 seconds left in the game to give ASU the 4-1 victory.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Matthew Kopperud crept closer to the ASU career record for power play goals with his 23rd PPG in his three-year career. Johnny Walker (2017-22) holds the record with 25 PPG.
- TJ Semptimphelter played another outstanding night between the pipes for Arizona State. The sophomore snatched 41 saves for his ninth 30-plus save night through 18 appearances.
- Mastrosimone stayed hot on his point-scoring run with his assist on Kopperud's goal. The senior has notched at least one point in five of the last seven games (1G, 9A).
- Defenseman Jack Judson is on a two-game point-scoring streak with one goal on Friday night and an assist at No. 1 Denver last Saturday night. Judson is having his best statistical season of his career with two goals and eight assists so far. His 10 points through only 17 games matches his career high in a single season which included four goals and seven assists for 11 points through 34 games played in his freshman year (2019-20).
- Josh Doan tallied his fifth multi-point night with one goal and one assist.