TEMPE – The short-handed Arizona State hockey team battled hard until the end, but ultimately fell 4-2 to the Alaska Nanooks on Saturday night at Mullett Arena. Josh Doan and Demetrios Koumontzis led the offense for an injury-riddled Sun Devil (15-20-0) roster against the Nanooks (19-10-2).
ASU's line chart featured only three operating forward lines, instead of the usual four, due to an insurmountable number of injuries to key players. Front man Robert Mastrosimone and power d-man Ty Murchison missed Saturday night's series finale due to injury, bringing ASU's non-healthy scratch list to eight players.
GAME NOTABLES
How It Happened:
First Period
Alaska committed the game's first penalty for hooking and the opportunity was not squandered by the Sun Devils, who scored their second power play goal in as many nights. After a frenzy in the Nanook crease, Demetrious Koumontzis muscled a shot past the net-minder, scoring the first goal to give ASU a 1-0 lead 6:58 into the period. Dylan Jackson earned his seventh assist of the season with his brother, Ty Jackson obtaining his 13th of the year.
Five minutes later, ASU's Tim Lovell was assessed a penalty for slashing, giving the Nanooks their first power play opportunity of the night. The fifth-ranked penalty kill unit in the country had no problem handling the Nanooks and killing off the man advantage.
TJ Semptimphelter was a brick wall in the opening period, making 15 saves to keep Alaska off the board. The Sun Devils finished the first period on the power play thanks to a hooking penalty called on Alaska with 40 seconds left in the frame. Once play resumes, the Sun Devils will have 1:19 remaining on the power play.
Second Period
One minute into the second period, and still on the power play, Josh Doan sparked the Sun Devils with a top-shelf shot to extend the ASU lead. Doan's 12th goal of the season leads the team, while Koumontzis earned his ninth assist and Tim Lovell tallied his fifth assist in the last four contests.
ASU continued its aggressive play by killing an Alaska penalty to maintain their two-goal lead.
About nine minutes into the period, Alaska finally found the back of the net to cut the Sun Devil lead in half to make it 2-1 with 11:30 remaining.
With 7:32 left in the second period, extracurricular activities by both teams took place after a Nanook charged Semptimphelter. The scuffle resulted in two offsetting minor penalties to each team, but a third charging call assessed to the Nanooks gave the Sun Devils another power play chance. ASU got multiple looks to make it a two-goal game, but the momentum was neutralized after a Sun Devil penalty gave Alaska a man-advantage for 90 seconds. The kill unit once again went to work stifling the Nanooks offense.
Alaska was able to tack on another goal in the dwindling minutes of the second period to tie the game at two.
Third Period
Both sides presented a quiet start to the final period until the ASU PK unit was put out for a critical five-minute cross checking major penalty. The five-minute penalty was killed but Alaska took their first lead of the game just seconds after ASU returned to full strength.
Inside the final five minutes a valiant effort by the Sun Devils' top-line presented several opportunities to tie the game but it was to no avail. Alaska took advantage of a breakaway to score their fourth goal of the night and secure the 4-2 victory.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils go on their final roadtrip of the season to take on Alaska Anchorage for the second time this year. ASU was able to secure a home sweep versus the Seawolves on Nov. 11-12. Follow @SunDevilHockey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news.
Quotes:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On the third period:
"The third period wasn't like the ice was tilted. The shots were 12-11 and they had six minutes of power play time. We took a stupid penalty, that was it. It was an evenly played third period. We actually had some chances, a lot of chances to tie it up. The kid made some big saves. The team is charmed, they're figuring out ways to win and they are going to make the tournament. Hats off to them, that is really cool. But you can't take that penalty, especially when you're so short handed."
On penalty kill:
"It's been great. TJ has been great on it. That third goal was frustrating because we won three draws in the D-zone to get it out, and we didn't get it out. Three times we missed clears, and it's an art. A 22-foot clear is an art, it's a lost art."
On Mastrosimone, Murchison, and injuries:
"Mastrosimone has been fighting injury for a while now, he's been playing 60 percent and he needed a night off. Murchison took a high hit in the game last night, and if you noticed, he didn't play in the third period. Two huge losses when you are already extremely short as it is, and then you lose two draft picks, a big horse in the back. It is what it is. It would have been a hell of a win tonight with what we had dressed, but it just wasn't in the cards. I'm proud of the guys. They fought hard. It's been 20 games of grueling adversity, short handed and this is the result. We have got to find a way to finish strong. I don't know who we are going to get back, if anybody. I may call up a kid from the club team if I have to. He will play hard I'm sure, I've already looked into it. I would look for that because we are probably going to need a body. We will have some fun with the last four games."
Graduate assistant captain Demetrios Koumontzis:
On his goal:
"He (Doan) sends it down to Dylan and Dylan kind of walked to the net and it kind of popped out. I was just in the right spot, but it was a good play by all of the guys out there. It's been weird being thrown back and playing defense, but I've kind of gotten a hang of it, at least I feel like I have. I've been having fun back there. It's been nice. But when you're not winning games, it's frustrating and that's what I'm looking at."
On not getting .500 for the first time in a while:
"It's definitely frustrating. I was a part of the tournament team the first year and during the next year when he (Semik) came in, he was the part of one as well and then COVID went and took that away. It's been a tough go since then. This year, I thought we had the team that was going to get it done and it just didn't go that way, a lot of injuries. It's just the way it works and now at this point you want to end on a high note, we want to win these four games. If anything, it's helping the guys that are going to be here next year to carry on the tradition, carry on the culture that we've been trying to keep. Evolve and build onto it. That's the biggest thing for me. I want to see these guys care just as much as guys in the past, that showed us. I think that is the big thing, you want to pass down the same tradition."
Senior defenseman Jacob Semik:
On keeping the morale going:
"We just try our best to motivate the guys and obviously we're playing for something bigger than ourselves at this point. It's for the program, so I think you just motivate guys, especially the guys returning because they will be here longer than we will. So it is important to keep them motivated so that they're ready for the future and not right now. Even though we are in a bit of a rut."
ASU's line chart featured only three operating forward lines, instead of the usual four, due to an insurmountable number of injuries to key players. Front man Robert Mastrosimone and power d-man Ty Murchison missed Saturday night's series finale due to injury, bringing ASU's non-healthy scratch list to eight players.
GAME NOTABLES
- Doan netted a goal in his third-straight game and extended his point streak to five-straight.
- Through eight games against Alaska, Doan obtained two goals and six assists for a point per game against the Nanooks.
- Tim Lovell acquired his fourth-straight game with an assist, it was his fifth in the last four.
- Koumontzis netted his seventh goal, already extending his career high for goals in a single season.
- Goaltender TJ Semptimphelter's 35 saves marked his tenth game this season reaching the 35+ save mark.
How It Happened:
First Period
Alaska committed the game's first penalty for hooking and the opportunity was not squandered by the Sun Devils, who scored their second power play goal in as many nights. After a frenzy in the Nanook crease, Demetrious Koumontzis muscled a shot past the net-minder, scoring the first goal to give ASU a 1-0 lead 6:58 into the period. Dylan Jackson earned his seventh assist of the season with his brother, Ty Jackson obtaining his 13th of the year.
when at first you don't succeed, try, try until Komo does ??@dkoumontzis /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/jkUcuUN9pE
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) February 26, 2023
Five minutes later, ASU's Tim Lovell was assessed a penalty for slashing, giving the Nanooks their first power play opportunity of the night. The fifth-ranked penalty kill unit in the country had no problem handling the Nanooks and killing off the man advantage.
TJ Semptimphelter was a brick wall in the opening period, making 15 saves to keep Alaska off the board. The Sun Devils finished the first period on the power play thanks to a hooking penalty called on Alaska with 40 seconds left in the frame. Once play resumes, the Sun Devils will have 1:19 remaining on the power play.
Second Period
One minute into the second period, and still on the power play, Josh Doan sparked the Sun Devils with a top-shelf shot to extend the ASU lead. Doan's 12th goal of the season leads the team, while Koumontzis earned his ninth assist and Tim Lovell tallied his fifth assist in the last four contests.
this power play making it look easy ?????@JTDoaner19 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/fETqE7iI1z
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) February 26, 2023
ASU continued its aggressive play by killing an Alaska penalty to maintain their two-goal lead.
About nine minutes into the period, Alaska finally found the back of the net to cut the Sun Devil lead in half to make it 2-1 with 11:30 remaining.
With 7:32 left in the second period, extracurricular activities by both teams took place after a Nanook charged Semptimphelter. The scuffle resulted in two offsetting minor penalties to each team, but a third charging call assessed to the Nanooks gave the Sun Devils another power play chance. ASU got multiple looks to make it a two-goal game, but the momentum was neutralized after a Sun Devil penalty gave Alaska a man-advantage for 90 seconds. The kill unit once again went to work stifling the Nanooks offense.
Alaska was able to tack on another goal in the dwindling minutes of the second period to tie the game at two.
Third Period
Both sides presented a quiet start to the final period until the ASU PK unit was put out for a critical five-minute cross checking major penalty. The five-minute penalty was killed but Alaska took their first lead of the game just seconds after ASU returned to full strength.
Inside the final five minutes a valiant effort by the Sun Devils' top-line presented several opportunities to tie the game but it was to no avail. Alaska took advantage of a breakaway to score their fourth goal of the night and secure the 4-2 victory.
Up Next:
The Sun Devils go on their final roadtrip of the season to take on Alaska Anchorage for the second time this year. ASU was able to secure a home sweep versus the Seawolves on Nov. 11-12. Follow @SunDevilHockey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news.
Quotes:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On the third period:
"The third period wasn't like the ice was tilted. The shots were 12-11 and they had six minutes of power play time. We took a stupid penalty, that was it. It was an evenly played third period. We actually had some chances, a lot of chances to tie it up. The kid made some big saves. The team is charmed, they're figuring out ways to win and they are going to make the tournament. Hats off to them, that is really cool. But you can't take that penalty, especially when you're so short handed."
On penalty kill:
"It's been great. TJ has been great on it. That third goal was frustrating because we won three draws in the D-zone to get it out, and we didn't get it out. Three times we missed clears, and it's an art. A 22-foot clear is an art, it's a lost art."
On Mastrosimone, Murchison, and injuries:
"Mastrosimone has been fighting injury for a while now, he's been playing 60 percent and he needed a night off. Murchison took a high hit in the game last night, and if you noticed, he didn't play in the third period. Two huge losses when you are already extremely short as it is, and then you lose two draft picks, a big horse in the back. It is what it is. It would have been a hell of a win tonight with what we had dressed, but it just wasn't in the cards. I'm proud of the guys. They fought hard. It's been 20 games of grueling adversity, short handed and this is the result. We have got to find a way to finish strong. I don't know who we are going to get back, if anybody. I may call up a kid from the club team if I have to. He will play hard I'm sure, I've already looked into it. I would look for that because we are probably going to need a body. We will have some fun with the last four games."
Graduate assistant captain Demetrios Koumontzis:
On his goal:
"He (Doan) sends it down to Dylan and Dylan kind of walked to the net and it kind of popped out. I was just in the right spot, but it was a good play by all of the guys out there. It's been weird being thrown back and playing defense, but I've kind of gotten a hang of it, at least I feel like I have. I've been having fun back there. It's been nice. But when you're not winning games, it's frustrating and that's what I'm looking at."
On not getting .500 for the first time in a while:
"It's definitely frustrating. I was a part of the tournament team the first year and during the next year when he (Semik) came in, he was the part of one as well and then COVID went and took that away. It's been a tough go since then. This year, I thought we had the team that was going to get it done and it just didn't go that way, a lot of injuries. It's just the way it works and now at this point you want to end on a high note, we want to win these four games. If anything, it's helping the guys that are going to be here next year to carry on the tradition, carry on the culture that we've been trying to keep. Evolve and build onto it. That's the biggest thing for me. I want to see these guys care just as much as guys in the past, that showed us. I think that is the big thing, you want to pass down the same tradition."
Senior defenseman Jacob Semik:
On keeping the morale going:
"We just try our best to motivate the guys and obviously we're playing for something bigger than ourselves at this point. It's for the program, so I think you just motivate guys, especially the guys returning because they will be here longer than we will. So it is important to keep them motivated so that they're ready for the future and not right now. Even though we are in a bit of a rut."