TEMPE – The No. 13 Arizona State ice hockey team (10-2-1) gave the No. 9 Providence Friars (8-4-2) hell in the desert with an overtime 4-3 victory on Friday night at Mullett Arena. Dylan Jackson put away the game-winning goal with the help of his brother, Ty Jackson and Tim Lovell. The Sun Devils are now 7-0 all-time in overtime games at Mullett Arena.
Senior forward Alex Young scored the first two goals of the night and graduate forward and captain Tyler Gratton netted the game-tying goal to send the Sun Devils into overtime. ASU was backstopped by another standout performance from junior netminder TJ Semptimphelter who faced 41 shots and tallied 38 saves on the night, marking his 18th career 30-plus save game and his most saves this season. He is currently tied for fourth in the nation for goalie winning percentage at 77.8%.
The Sun Devils remain undefeated at Mullett Arena when playing extra minutes. After tonight's win, ASU improves to 7-0-0 in overtime at home since 2022 and 4-0-0 this season. Three out of four overtime wins were against ranked opponents, including then-No. 15 Merrimack, then-No. 2 Denver and No. 9 Providence.
ASU is also now 6-0-0 when an opponent scores three goals in one period.
Several ASU skaters are in the midst of point streaks which were extended on night one against the Friars. Senior forward Dylan Jackson is currently on a three-game point scoring streak which includes two goals in the last two games. Senior defenseman Tim Lovell is on a five-game point streak with his assist tonight on Jackson's game-winner and senior forward and alternate captain Matthew Kopperud is on a four-game point streak with his assist to Tyler Gratton. Sillinger extended his point-scoring streak to five games after earning his 10th point in the last five games on an assist.
GAME NOTABLES
PERIOD BREAKDOWN
First Period
The Sun Devils and the Friars kicked off the first period going back and forth between both ends of the ice. TJ Semptimphelter dominated in the net with 14 saves throughout the period, keeping ASU in the game. With six minutes left in the period, the Sun Devils came down the ice and Lukas Sillinger found Alex Young in the middle where he lit the lamp from distance to make it 1-0.
Second Period
Despite Providence taking a 2-1 lead in the first half of the period, Alex Young scored his second goal of the night after coming down the right side to tie things back up at 2-2. Providence was able to respond with just under two minutes left in the period to regain the lead at 3-2.
Third Period
Seven minutes into the final period of play, the Sun Devils were able to tie the game at three apiece with the help of Tyler Gratton's diving goal with assists from Matthew Kopperud and Brian Chambers.
ASU was able to force overtime play after maintaining a 3-3 score. After a pass from Ty Jackson, Dylan Jackson was able to take the puck down the right side and slot one in for the game winner.
QUOTES OF THE GAME
Head Coach Greg Powers
On playing hard and heavy hockey:
"Yeah, I thought so. That's hard to do against that team because they're the epitome of hard and heavy. They're that good. Just a resilient effort and win by our guys to go into the third, down. And then a huge play by all three seniors on that Chambers line and finished by Gratton to get us going and TJ was great, so just proud of our guys for finding a way to win on the score for a while."
On the overtime play tonight:
"We got a lot of skill, a lot of speed and tonight they were probably the better team in overtime. TJ made some big saves and then we had a great individual play by Dylan that, with just a ton of poise and what a finish. So, our guys are confident going into that and, and we've been successful so far."
On being 10-1 at home this season:
"It's pretty damn good, you know. It's a tough place for teams to come in and play. We wanted to create an incredible home ice advantage and atmosphere and make this a hockey school and we're well on our way to it. With nights like tonight, we're getting there."
Senior Forwards Dylan Jackson and Alex Young
(Dylan Jackson):
On the OT game winning goal:
"Yeah, it was kind of a weird play. Everyone kind of stopped, I even did a little bit, and then they didn't blow the whistle. I saw that guy hesitate and I thought I could poke it around him so I just kept going and I kind of got lucky there."
(Alex Young):
On what this game meant to him tonight with two goals:
"I think really taking shots at any time I get the chance and like how you saw with my first goal, just took a shot from far out with the defensemen screening and it happened to find a way in. So it's really just getting pucks on net and trying to get a lucky one and get the confidence back, I think that's what happened today. Last Sunday, I had a good game and had my confidence going again, so just shooting pucks and getting them in."
(Dylan Jackson):
On ending the night with a win after the unsuccessful power play:
"Yeah, obviously it feels really good. Like I said, these guys were a really good team. One of the top teams we're going to play all year. So, getting a win against them is huge."
(Alex Young):
On how important his second goal was to level the playing field:
"I think that was big, we needed a momentum swing and we got that back right there. The rest of the game we played the right way and the way we wanted to play. The second goal was big and just got us right back into the game."
Senior forward Alex Young scored the first two goals of the night and graduate forward and captain Tyler Gratton netted the game-tying goal to send the Sun Devils into overtime. ASU was backstopped by another standout performance from junior netminder TJ Semptimphelter who faced 41 shots and tallied 38 saves on the night, marking his 18th career 30-plus save game and his most saves this season. He is currently tied for fourth in the nation for goalie winning percentage at 77.8%.
Down go the Friars ??#BeTheTradition /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/iZDn8RAzhH
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 25, 2023
The Sun Devils remain undefeated at Mullett Arena when playing extra minutes. After tonight's win, ASU improves to 7-0-0 in overtime at home since 2022 and 4-0-0 this season. Three out of four overtime wins were against ranked opponents, including then-No. 15 Merrimack, then-No. 2 Denver and No. 9 Providence.
ASU is also now 6-0-0 when an opponent scores three goals in one period.
Several ASU skaters are in the midst of point streaks which were extended on night one against the Friars. Senior forward Dylan Jackson is currently on a three-game point scoring streak which includes two goals in the last two games. Senior defenseman Tim Lovell is on a five-game point streak with his assist tonight on Jackson's game-winner and senior forward and alternate captain Matthew Kopperud is on a four-game point streak with his assist to Tyler Gratton. Sillinger extended his point-scoring streak to five games after earning his 10th point in the last five games on an assist.
It's the TJ show ??@tsemp35 /// #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/6wOrwsxUpH
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 25, 2023
GAME NOTABLES
- The Sun Devils improve to 6-0-0 tonight when the opponent scores three goals in a single period.
- ASU continues to remain undefeated at Mullett Arena in overtime games (7-0-0) since 2022.
- The Sun Devils have won five straight one-goal games, the longest streak in program history.
- ASU is 7-1 in one-goal games this year.
- ASU is 3-1 this season when trailing after the third period after being 1-14 last year in the same scenario.
- No. 7 Providence has blown a lead in three straight games when entering the third period with the lead.
- It's only Providence's 10th loss after leading after two periods since 2011
- ASU is 4-1 against ranked opponents this season, fourth-most in program history against ranked teams in a single season.
- It is TJ Semptimphelter's 18th 30+ save game, out of these games he has won four straight.
- At the dot, second-line center Brian Chambers led the Sun Devils with a 61.5% success rate (16-10).
- It's ASU's third-straight win against a ranked opponent this year in overtime: No. 15 Merrimack, No. 2 Denver, and No. 9 Providence.
- ASU is 1 of 4 teams in the country with ten wins currently at 10-2-1 along with No. 1 North Dakota (10-2-1), No. 2 Boston College (10-2-1) and No. 7 Michigan State (10-3-1).
- ASU is tied with the most overtime wins in the country at four with Ferris State.
PERIOD BREAKDOWN
First Period
The Sun Devils and the Friars kicked off the first period going back and forth between both ends of the ice. TJ Semptimphelter dominated in the net with 14 saves throughout the period, keeping ASU in the game. With six minutes left in the period, the Sun Devils came down the ice and Lukas Sillinger found Alex Young in the middle where he lit the lamp from distance to make it 1-0.
Second Period
Despite Providence taking a 2-1 lead in the first half of the period, Alex Young scored his second goal of the night after coming down the right side to tie things back up at 2-2. Providence was able to respond with just under two minutes left in the period to regain the lead at 3-2.
Third Period
Seven minutes into the final period of play, the Sun Devils were able to tie the game at three apiece with the help of Tyler Gratton's diving goal with assists from Matthew Kopperud and Brian Chambers.
ASU was able to force overtime play after maintaining a 3-3 score. After a pass from Ty Jackson, Dylan Jackson was able to take the puck down the right side and slot one in for the game winner.
QUOTES OF THE GAME
Head Coach Greg Powers
On playing hard and heavy hockey:
"Yeah, I thought so. That's hard to do against that team because they're the epitome of hard and heavy. They're that good. Just a resilient effort and win by our guys to go into the third, down. And then a huge play by all three seniors on that Chambers line and finished by Gratton to get us going and TJ was great, so just proud of our guys for finding a way to win on the score for a while."
On the overtime play tonight:
"We got a lot of skill, a lot of speed and tonight they were probably the better team in overtime. TJ made some big saves and then we had a great individual play by Dylan that, with just a ton of poise and what a finish. So, our guys are confident going into that and, and we've been successful so far."
On being 10-1 at home this season:
"It's pretty damn good, you know. It's a tough place for teams to come in and play. We wanted to create an incredible home ice advantage and atmosphere and make this a hockey school and we're well on our way to it. With nights like tonight, we're getting there."
Senior Forwards Dylan Jackson and Alex Young
(Dylan Jackson):
On the OT game winning goal:
"Yeah, it was kind of a weird play. Everyone kind of stopped, I even did a little bit, and then they didn't blow the whistle. I saw that guy hesitate and I thought I could poke it around him so I just kept going and I kind of got lucky there."
(Alex Young):
On what this game meant to him tonight with two goals:
"I think really taking shots at any time I get the chance and like how you saw with my first goal, just took a shot from far out with the defensemen screening and it happened to find a way in. So it's really just getting pucks on net and trying to get a lucky one and get the confidence back, I think that's what happened today. Last Sunday, I had a good game and had my confidence going again, so just shooting pucks and getting them in."
(Dylan Jackson):
On ending the night with a win after the unsuccessful power play:
"Yeah, obviously it feels really good. Like I said, these guys were a really good team. One of the top teams we're going to play all year. So, getting a win against them is huge."
(Alex Young):
On how important his second goal was to level the playing field:
"I think that was big, we needed a momentum swing and we got that back right there. The rest of the game we played the right way and the way we wanted to play. The second goal was big and just got us right back into the game."