TEMPE – Coming off a record-setting night, the Sun Devils stayed hot on home ice with their fourth-straight home victory in comeback fashion. The Arizona State ice hockey team (15-18-0) scored three unanswered goals en route to a 5-3 victory and series sweep over the Lindenwood Lions (7-19-0) on Saturday night at Mullett Arena.
The second-straight sweep at Mullett Arena for the Sun Devils featured 13 goals in front of the Sun Devil faithful. It was the sixth time this season that ASU netted at least five goals in a game. Graduate Chris Grando buried his fourth goal of the year early in the third period which became the game-winning goal that secured the series sweep.
Junior forward Ryan O'Reilly also added to his goal tally, complete with two goals in two nights against the Lions. Sophomore captain Josh Doan found the net twice on Saturday for his first two-goal game of the season and first since Jan. 29, 2022, against Minnesota Duluth in his rookie season. Doan also tallied a power play goal, the third for the team this weekend.
Continuing his success from the night before which included four assists, Ty Jackson kept the heater running in the series finale - notching his fifth goal of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Period:
Unlike last night's quick goal-scoring performance, the Lions struck first in a collision with ASU goaltender TJ Semptimphelter at the eight-minute mark. The Lions were subsequently called for goaltender interference after the goal was scored, so the goal stood and ASU went on its first power play of the night.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Sun Devil deficit was erased after team captain Josh Doan nailed his ninth goal of the year after welcoming a perfect pass from Tim Lovell (11A) to knot the score at one. It marked the third power-play goal of the series against the Lions.
Inside the final five, the Sun Devils welcomed another power play chance and as time ran down on the advantage, a five-minute game misconduct was assessed to a Lions skater after a head contact on Lukas Sillinger. He left the game and did not return to play. The opening frame ended tied at one with ASU having 3:29 left on the man advantage.
Second Period:
Starting the period on the power play, the Sun Devil attack relentlessly targeted the back of the net with multiple shots on goal, but the game remained tied with 15 minutes remaining in the second period.
The Lions re-took the lead after sneaking the puck past the Sun Devil defense, making the game 2-1 with 12 minutes left. Shortly after, Ty Jackson equalized the game after receiving a sharp pass from Demetrios Koumontzis and his twin Dylan Jackson.
The Lion offense was able to capitalize on an ASU tripping call to take a 3-2 lead with eight minutes left.
The seesaw scoring continued as the Sun Devils took advantage of a two-on-one breakaway and forward Ryan O'Reilly notched in his second goal in as many nights off a pass from forward Teddy Lagerback.
The game was tied 3-3 going into the third period.
Third Period:
Controlling the start of the final period the Sun Devils remained on the prowl. Graduate forward Chris Grando came up big with a tie-breaking goal that shifted the momentum to ASU and gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the night.
Lindenwood emptied its net in a last ditch effort to tie the game but Doan smoothly stole the puck in the Lions' zone to bury the team's fifth goal of the night and confirm the sweep over the Lions.
UP NEXT:
Arizona State ice hockey remains at home and welcomes the Alaska Anchorage Nanooks to Mullett Arena. The two-game series will take place Feb. 24-25, with the Friday matchup starting at 7 p.m. and Saturday's game starting at 5 p.m.. Friday night coverage is available on Pac-12 Arizona and Saturday will air on the ASU Live Stream. As always, the game is available to listen to on FOX SPORTS 910 (KGME), the home of Sun Devil hockey.
QUOTES:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On Sun Devil forward Lukas Sillinger:
"We hope he's okay, he's obviously coherent and didn't have to go to the hospital or anything but it was unfortunate. It was a dirty hit and you hate to see that but it is what it is."
On the substanstual amount of shots this weekend:
"It's good, we put up 39 (shots) tonight and it was a good way to follow it up. We thought we could've added another seven or eight tonight but it wasn't going in quite as easily for us. A couple open nets with some nice finishes and scored 13 goals on the weekend is always a good thing."
On facing Alaska-Anchorage next weekend:
"They're playing well, they're on the ice right now playing a good team in LIU so we're excited about the high-stakes. I know our guys are excited for the opportunity."
On Lindenwood's play:
"I thought their first period was the best period of the weekend. They came out hard and I knew they would. I thought the second period we completely dominated it. I thought we carried the play and could've had a few more and we got some bounces and that's how it works sometimes. We haven't had a ton of puck luck this year and didn't have it tonight and the other team did and we stuck with it and found a way to get a win. Grando is a perfect example. He put a pretty one in for them on his back end and he put a really pretty one for us on his backend so that's why he got the first star, when you get a goal for both teams on your backend you get the first star.
On the offense heading into this week and if there were changes:
"No, I just want the guys to play free, and manage the puck If we manage the puck and stay above it. The Jacksons tonight were just as good tonight as they were last night, they could've had a few. I know Ty had one, but they were buzzing, they forecheck and sticks were really good and above pucks, disrupting, weren't letting them out with easy exits so genuinely when you do that you create some chances and get rewarded and we did 13 times. It felt great to score 13 goals, great crowd tonight, an unbelievable crowd on a Saturday night. So glad they got to see a good game."
Arizona State Forward Chris Grando:
On game-winning goal:
"It was good work by Ducky and (Robert) Mastrosimone down-low and the puck squirted out in the front of the net and made a play and put it into the back of the net."
Arizona State Forward Ryan O'Reilly:
On mindset going into the Lindenwood series:
"It feels good after potting two (wins) this weekend, it feels good to have a shot of confidence. We're taking it one game at a time for the rest of the season."
The second-straight sweep at Mullett Arena for the Sun Devils featured 13 goals in front of the Sun Devil faithful. It was the sixth time this season that ASU netted at least five goals in a game. Graduate Chris Grando buried his fourth goal of the year early in the third period which became the game-winning goal that secured the series sweep.
rock the Mullett??@C_GRAND_3 /// #O2V pic.twitter.com/ZYWy4HUwhy
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) February 19, 2023
Junior forward Ryan O'Reilly also added to his goal tally, complete with two goals in two nights against the Lions. Sophomore captain Josh Doan found the net twice on Saturday for his first two-goal game of the season and first since Jan. 29, 2022, against Minnesota Duluth in his rookie season. Doan also tallied a power play goal, the third for the team this weekend.
Continuing his success from the night before which included four assists, Ty Jackson kept the heater running in the series finale - notching his fifth goal of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Period:
Unlike last night's quick goal-scoring performance, the Lions struck first in a collision with ASU goaltender TJ Semptimphelter at the eight-minute mark. The Lions were subsequently called for goaltender interference after the goal was scored, so the goal stood and ASU went on its first power play of the night.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Sun Devil deficit was erased after team captain Josh Doan nailed his ninth goal of the year after welcoming a perfect pass from Tim Lovell (11A) to knot the score at one. It marked the third power-play goal of the series against the Lions.
Inside the final five, the Sun Devils welcomed another power play chance and as time ran down on the advantage, a five-minute game misconduct was assessed to a Lions skater after a head contact on Lukas Sillinger. He left the game and did not return to play. The opening frame ended tied at one with ASU having 3:29 left on the man advantage.
Second Period:
Starting the period on the power play, the Sun Devil attack relentlessly targeted the back of the net with multiple shots on goal, but the game remained tied with 15 minutes remaining in the second period.
The Lions re-took the lead after sneaking the puck past the Sun Devil defense, making the game 2-1 with 12 minutes left. Shortly after, Ty Jackson equalized the game after receiving a sharp pass from Demetrios Koumontzis and his twin Dylan Jackson.
The Lion offense was able to capitalize on an ASU tripping call to take a 3-2 lead with eight minutes left.
The seesaw scoring continued as the Sun Devils took advantage of a two-on-one breakaway and forward Ryan O'Reilly notched in his second goal in as many nights off a pass from forward Teddy Lagerback.
The game was tied 3-3 going into the third period.
Third Period:
Controlling the start of the final period the Sun Devils remained on the prowl. Graduate forward Chris Grando came up big with a tie-breaking goal that shifted the momentum to ASU and gave the Sun Devils their first lead of the night.
Lindenwood emptied its net in a last ditch effort to tie the game but Doan smoothly stole the puck in the Lions' zone to bury the team's fifth goal of the night and confirm the sweep over the Lions.
UP NEXT:
Arizona State ice hockey remains at home and welcomes the Alaska Anchorage Nanooks to Mullett Arena. The two-game series will take place Feb. 24-25, with the Friday matchup starting at 7 p.m. and Saturday's game starting at 5 p.m.. Friday night coverage is available on Pac-12 Arizona and Saturday will air on the ASU Live Stream. As always, the game is available to listen to on FOX SPORTS 910 (KGME), the home of Sun Devil hockey.
QUOTES:
Arizona State Head Coach Greg Powers:
On Sun Devil forward Lukas Sillinger:
"We hope he's okay, he's obviously coherent and didn't have to go to the hospital or anything but it was unfortunate. It was a dirty hit and you hate to see that but it is what it is."
On the substanstual amount of shots this weekend:
"It's good, we put up 39 (shots) tonight and it was a good way to follow it up. We thought we could've added another seven or eight tonight but it wasn't going in quite as easily for us. A couple open nets with some nice finishes and scored 13 goals on the weekend is always a good thing."
On facing Alaska-Anchorage next weekend:
"They're playing well, they're on the ice right now playing a good team in LIU so we're excited about the high-stakes. I know our guys are excited for the opportunity."
On Lindenwood's play:
"I thought their first period was the best period of the weekend. They came out hard and I knew they would. I thought the second period we completely dominated it. I thought we carried the play and could've had a few more and we got some bounces and that's how it works sometimes. We haven't had a ton of puck luck this year and didn't have it tonight and the other team did and we stuck with it and found a way to get a win. Grando is a perfect example. He put a pretty one in for them on his back end and he put a really pretty one for us on his backend so that's why he got the first star, when you get a goal for both teams on your backend you get the first star.
On the offense heading into this week and if there were changes:
"No, I just want the guys to play free, and manage the puck If we manage the puck and stay above it. The Jacksons tonight were just as good tonight as they were last night, they could've had a few. I know Ty had one, but they were buzzing, they forecheck and sticks were really good and above pucks, disrupting, weren't letting them out with easy exits so genuinely when you do that you create some chances and get rewarded and we did 13 times. It felt great to score 13 goals, great crowd tonight, an unbelievable crowd on a Saturday night. So glad they got to see a good game."
Arizona State Forward Chris Grando:
On game-winning goal:
"It was good work by Ducky and (Robert) Mastrosimone down-low and the puck squirted out in the front of the net and made a play and put it into the back of the net."
Arizona State Forward Ryan O'Reilly:
On mindset going into the Lindenwood series:
"It feels good after potting two (wins) this weekend, it feels good to have a shot of confidence. We're taking it one game at a time for the rest of the season."