TEMPE – The Arizona State ice hockey team (1-2-0) fell to Michigan (2-1-0) on Friday night in the season's home opener. Graduate forward Ty Jackson scored the Sun Devils' sole goal on a power play late in the third period.
ASU will look to split the series tomorrow at Mullett Arena with puck drop slated for 5 p.m. MST. The game will be available to view on NCHC.tv or through Fox 10 Xtra (Channel 45, Cable 9) and can be heard on Fox Sports 910 or on the iHeart Radio app.
The Sun Devils won the shot battle, but couldn't sneak anything past Michigan's netminder who executed a standout performance. ASU put up 36 shots to Michigan's 33, including 15 shots by the maroon and gold in the third period alone.
The two squads pressured each other's defenses throughout the first period, but neither team broke until the 18th minute of the frame when Michigan's Garrett Schifsky netted the first goal of the game.
Leading 1-0 to start the second period, the momentum of the game swung in Michigan's favor. Forty-five seconds in the maize and blue tallied a short-handed goal to extend their lead to 2-0. Less than three minutes later, the Wolverines took another chunk into the lead with a power play goal to push the score to 3-0.
Both benches continued to stay heated and after extracurricular activities ensued at center ice, ASU's Ty Murchison and Michigan's Josh Eernisse were given 10-minute misconducts, removing them from play for the remainder of the game.
Near the 18-minute mark in the final frame, the Wolverines were assessed a minor hooking call which gave the Sun Devils their fifth power play opportunity. The Jackson twins took full advantage and scored ASU's only goal on Friday night. The two played tic-tac-toe from the ASU blue line and through the slot of Michigan's zone to light the lamp.
QUOTES OF THE GAME
Head Coach Greg Powers
On the second period stretch:
"It was obviously a tough stretch. It takes the wind out when you have a good power play and a guy made two uncharacteristic plays and turnovers on it and it ends up in the back of our net. Then we're a second away from getting killed and they pop one. It was a big momentum swing. It took us probably the next 10 minutes to get out of a rut, we were on our heels there. Gibby (Homer) stood strong for us. I thought the difference in the game was the goalies. I thought their goalie played really well. Both teams made mistakes in the game. They're gonna make mistakes early in the season. Unfortunately, more of our mistakes ended up in the back of our net. I thought our guy was really good and Gibby played well. Their guy was just probably the best player on the ice and that's a really good team. It's a good lesson. We have to manage pucks and we have a tough schedule, so we have to manage."
On the mentality throughout the game:
"We were fine. I thought we were incredibly disciplined. We took two penalties on the night. We gave up two power plays on the night. I thought we were disciplined… We gotta manage the game better. We have to close out periods, we didn't close out the first period today. I thought we probably outplayed it in the first and then to go on with the one goal deficit was disappointing."
On the pace of the game:
"The pace was great. I don't have a problem with how we played overall minus the first 10 minutes of the second period, and we did it to ourselves. When you give a talented team like Michigan odd man opportunities and two one-on-ones, they're gonna put it in the back of the net. They're good. They're one of the best teams in the country for a reason. We just made too many mistakes again. They were opportunistic on our mistakes, we weren't on theirs."
Defenseman Ethan Szmagaj
On bouncing back from the loss:
"Just got to reset, learn from those mistakes and then keep playing physical. That's our game so we just have to get back to the details and move forward."
On what they can take from the first period into game two:
"It was a full team buy-in… we've just got to stay physical, use our speed, communicate and have each other's backs."
On the turning point in the game:
"Obviously when they score it's a dagger but, it's how we come back from that. I think we let up a little bit with our physicality, getting pucks and we've got to pressure them harder. But, we know what we need to do better and we'll execute."
ASU will look to split the series tomorrow at Mullett Arena with puck drop slated for 5 p.m. MST. The game will be available to view on NCHC.tv or through Fox 10 Xtra (Channel 45, Cable 9) and can be heard on Fox Sports 910 or on the iHeart Radio app.
STANDING ON BUSINESS ??#BeTheTradition /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/g5iWVHvkYU
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 11, 2024
The Sun Devils won the shot battle, but couldn't sneak anything past Michigan's netminder who executed a standout performance. ASU put up 36 shots to Michigan's 33, including 15 shots by the maroon and gold in the third period alone.
The two squads pressured each other's defenses throughout the first period, but neither team broke until the 18th minute of the frame when Michigan's Garrett Schifsky netted the first goal of the game.
Leading 1-0 to start the second period, the momentum of the game swung in Michigan's favor. Forty-five seconds in the maize and blue tallied a short-handed goal to extend their lead to 2-0. Less than three minutes later, the Wolverines took another chunk into the lead with a power play goal to push the score to 3-0.
Both benches continued to stay heated and after extracurricular activities ensued at center ice, ASU's Ty Murchison and Michigan's Josh Eernisse were given 10-minute misconducts, removing them from play for the remainder of the game.
Near the 18-minute mark in the final frame, the Wolverines were assessed a minor hooking call which gave the Sun Devils their fifth power play opportunity. The Jackson twins took full advantage and scored ASU's only goal on Friday night. The two played tic-tac-toe from the ASU blue line and through the slot of Michigan's zone to light the lamp.
TWIN CONNECTION ??#BeTheTradition /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/a8sPMKfaO3
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) October 12, 2024
QUOTES OF THE GAME
Head Coach Greg Powers
On the second period stretch:
"It was obviously a tough stretch. It takes the wind out when you have a good power play and a guy made two uncharacteristic plays and turnovers on it and it ends up in the back of our net. Then we're a second away from getting killed and they pop one. It was a big momentum swing. It took us probably the next 10 minutes to get out of a rut, we were on our heels there. Gibby (Homer) stood strong for us. I thought the difference in the game was the goalies. I thought their goalie played really well. Both teams made mistakes in the game. They're gonna make mistakes early in the season. Unfortunately, more of our mistakes ended up in the back of our net. I thought our guy was really good and Gibby played well. Their guy was just probably the best player on the ice and that's a really good team. It's a good lesson. We have to manage pucks and we have a tough schedule, so we have to manage."
On the mentality throughout the game:
"We were fine. I thought we were incredibly disciplined. We took two penalties on the night. We gave up two power plays on the night. I thought we were disciplined… We gotta manage the game better. We have to close out periods, we didn't close out the first period today. I thought we probably outplayed it in the first and then to go on with the one goal deficit was disappointing."
On the pace of the game:
"The pace was great. I don't have a problem with how we played overall minus the first 10 minutes of the second period, and we did it to ourselves. When you give a talented team like Michigan odd man opportunities and two one-on-ones, they're gonna put it in the back of the net. They're good. They're one of the best teams in the country for a reason. We just made too many mistakes again. They were opportunistic on our mistakes, we weren't on theirs."
Defenseman Ethan Szmagaj
On bouncing back from the loss:
"Just got to reset, learn from those mistakes and then keep playing physical. That's our game so we just have to get back to the details and move forward."
On what they can take from the first period into game two:
"It was a full team buy-in… we've just got to stay physical, use our speed, communicate and have each other's backs."
On the turning point in the game:
"Obviously when they score it's a dagger but, it's how we come back from that. I think we let up a little bit with our physicality, getting pucks and we've got to pressure them harder. But, we know what we need to do better and we'll execute."