TEMPE – A powered up power play and backstopping by TJ Semptimphelter allows the No. 14 Sun Devil Hockey (8-2-1) team to sink the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves (5-7-1) in a 4-3 victory on Friday night at Mullett Arena. ASU scored two power play goals from Tim Lovell and Matthew Kopperud to improve to the fourth-best specialty teams unit in the country.
ASU now ranks fourth in the nation in power play goal percentage (29.4) and continued to show strength in that department on Friday night. Tim Lovell and Matthew Kopperud's goals were both scored while on the man-advantage. The Sun Devils have now scored a power play goal in each of the last five games and scored two power play goals in each of the last three consecutive games. This season, ASU has scored 15 power play goals through 11 games, which ranks third in the country.
Sophomore forward Charlie Schoen logged his first career NCAA game winning goal to help seal the victory.
Matthew Kopperud added on to his career power play goals, scoring his fifth of the season and the 29th of his NCAA career. Ty Jackson and Tim Lovell also found the back of the net in the opening match against the Seawolves. With his goal, Ty Jackson has tallied five points in the last three games. Lukas Sillinger got on the board with three assists followed by Tim Lovell, Dylan Jackson, Kyle Smolen, Brandon Tabakin and Alex Young each getting an assist.
GAME NOTABLES
PERIOD BREAKDOWN
First Period
Halfway through the first period, ASU struck first as Ty Jackson tallied his third goal of the season, tipping one in at the crease with assists from Brandon Tabakin and Lukas Sillinger. The Seawolves were able to quickly counter, tying the game. Shortly after, the Sun Devils went on the man-advantage and didn't take long to make use of it. Tim Lovell shot one through the crowded slot to give ASU the lead at 2-1. Dylan Jackson and Lukas Sillinger each tallied an assist on the goal.
Second Period
UAA opened up the period on a power play advantage, converting one as the penalty was about to expire to make it 2-2. ASU was able to get vengeance on its power play as
Matthew Kopperud scored his 29th career power play goal with help from Lukas Sillinger and Tim Lovell.
Third Period
UAA came out hot, sneaking one in past Semptimphelter to make it 3-3 just 37 seconds into the final frame. Nine minutes later, ASU took the puck down to the opposite end of the ice where Charlie Schoen scored the game-winning goal. Kyle Smolen and Alex Young were credited with the assists.
Quotes of the Game
Head Coach Greg Powers
On TJ Semptimphelter's performance:
"It was good to see him bounce back. He was himself, he made some big saves. What I think I liked most about his game was, he definitely is gonna want that second one back, but the other two went off us, you know, they were kind of just weird sloppy plays that went off our sticks, and he didn't falter, he just stuck with it mentally and made some big saves and that's what he does when he's on his game. So it was good to see him back on his game and for him to get us a win."
On the special teams:
"I thought our special teams were great. Our power play got two for us. I think that our kill was really good. I mean, I think we had three kills where they didn't get a shot. And then the kill that we got scored on probably just as a goal that he's going to want back, but he was, he was really good in every other way and special teams no complaints."
On Tim Lovell's performance:
"He's dynamic. He's really matured as a player in a lot of ways, and he's controlling the game right now. So he had a really good goal and two assists. I think our entire defensive core from top to bottom could do a better job on Sunday at managing pucks… Our defense has to use their legs more than they did tonight to break pucks out, but overall, Timmy was good and I think that we can be a lot better Sunday."
Senior Defenseman Tim Lovell and junior goaltender TJ Semptimphelter
On the power play performance (Tim Lovell):
"Yeah, I mean, we have four other guys that can move the puck and score. I mean, it's not really difficult to really make a play when you have guys who can really find the back of the net and find guys that are open. So it's been great.
On the save sequence in the third period (TJ Semptimphelter):
"Yeah, in my head, I was just, just thinking to myself, compete, compete, compete, you know, as, as a goalie, that's kind of the only thing you can control, right? And I was really proud of the guys. I thought we responded really well, a couple of tough bounces, right? But that's the game. So, I thought as a team, we responded really well, we didn't really let them get any momentum off of that. And, you know, Chuck went out the next shift, ended up getting a goal. He was rewarded for his line. I thought they were doing really well all night and had a lot of chances. So I was happy to see him get one and, you know, and then I just thought we locked it down the rest of the game."
ASU now ranks fourth in the nation in power play goal percentage (29.4) and continued to show strength in that department on Friday night. Tim Lovell and Matthew Kopperud's goals were both scored while on the man-advantage. The Sun Devils have now scored a power play goal in each of the last five games and scored two power play goals in each of the last three consecutive games. This season, ASU has scored 15 power play goals through 11 games, which ranks third in the country.
Sophomore forward Charlie Schoen logged his first career NCAA game winning goal to help seal the victory.
Matthew Kopperud added on to his career power play goals, scoring his fifth of the season and the 29th of his NCAA career. Ty Jackson and Tim Lovell also found the back of the net in the opening match against the Seawolves. With his goal, Ty Jackson has tallied five points in the last three games. Lukas Sillinger got on the board with three assists followed by Tim Lovell, Dylan Jackson, Kyle Smolen, Brandon Tabakin and Alex Young each getting an assist.
Snipe and Celly ??@charlieschoen23 /// #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/v5KoQy18Ql
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 18, 2023
GAME NOTABLES
- ASU moves up to fourth place nationally in power play percentage at 29.4.
- With his goal, Ty Jackson earned his fifth point in three games.
- Junior goaltender TJ Semtimphelter put up a solid performance against the Seawolves, logging 25 saves against 28 shots.
TJ appreciation post ??@tsemp35 /// #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/CFekI5fBNe
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 18, 2023
PERIOD BREAKDOWN
First Period
Halfway through the first period, ASU struck first as Ty Jackson tallied his third goal of the season, tipping one in at the crease with assists from Brandon Tabakin and Lukas Sillinger. The Seawolves were able to quickly counter, tying the game. Shortly after, the Sun Devils went on the man-advantage and didn't take long to make use of it. Tim Lovell shot one through the crowded slot to give ASU the lead at 2-1. Dylan Jackson and Lukas Sillinger each tallied an assist on the goal.
Second Period
UAA opened up the period on a power play advantage, converting one as the penalty was about to expire to make it 2-2. ASU was able to get vengeance on its power play as
Matthew Kopperud scored his 29th career power play goal with help from Lukas Sillinger and Tim Lovell.
Third Period
UAA came out hot, sneaking one in past Semptimphelter to make it 3-3 just 37 seconds into the final frame. Nine minutes later, ASU took the puck down to the opposite end of the ice where Charlie Schoen scored the game-winning goal. Kyle Smolen and Alex Young were credited with the assists.
Quotes of the Game
Head Coach Greg Powers
On TJ Semptimphelter's performance:
"It was good to see him bounce back. He was himself, he made some big saves. What I think I liked most about his game was, he definitely is gonna want that second one back, but the other two went off us, you know, they were kind of just weird sloppy plays that went off our sticks, and he didn't falter, he just stuck with it mentally and made some big saves and that's what he does when he's on his game. So it was good to see him back on his game and for him to get us a win."
On the special teams:
"I thought our special teams were great. Our power play got two for us. I think that our kill was really good. I mean, I think we had three kills where they didn't get a shot. And then the kill that we got scored on probably just as a goal that he's going to want back, but he was, he was really good in every other way and special teams no complaints."
On Tim Lovell's performance:
"He's dynamic. He's really matured as a player in a lot of ways, and he's controlling the game right now. So he had a really good goal and two assists. I think our entire defensive core from top to bottom could do a better job on Sunday at managing pucks… Our defense has to use their legs more than they did tonight to break pucks out, but overall, Timmy was good and I think that we can be a lot better Sunday."
Senior Defenseman Tim Lovell and junior goaltender TJ Semptimphelter
On the power play performance (Tim Lovell):
"Yeah, I mean, we have four other guys that can move the puck and score. I mean, it's not really difficult to really make a play when you have guys who can really find the back of the net and find guys that are open. So it's been great.
On the save sequence in the third period (TJ Semptimphelter):
"Yeah, in my head, I was just, just thinking to myself, compete, compete, compete, you know, as, as a goalie, that's kind of the only thing you can control, right? And I was really proud of the guys. I thought we responded really well, a couple of tough bounces, right? But that's the game. So, I thought as a team, we responded really well, we didn't really let them get any momentum off of that. And, you know, Chuck went out the next shift, ended up getting a goal. He was rewarded for his line. I thought they were doing really well all night and had a lot of chances. So I was happy to see him get one and, you know, and then I just thought we locked it down the rest of the game."