TEMPE – The No. 12 Arizona State ice hockey team (18-12-2, 13-8-1 NCHC) fell 4-3 in an overtime heartbreaker to No. 3 Western Michigan (23-6-1, 16-3-1 NCHC) on Saturday night at Mullett Arena. ASU had a chance at completing the sweep, but WMU managed to steal the series split after tying the game in the third and scoring the game-winner in overtime.
The overtime loss gave ASU one conference point while WMU received two for the overtime win. The Sun Devils took four of the possible six conference points up for grabs on the weekend. ASU boasts 44 total conference points which is three behind WMU for the top spot.
Cullen Potter notched two goals on the night, both of which gave ASU the lead in the second and third periods. With his first tally of the game, Potter became the fifth Sun Devil to reach double-digits in goals for this season.
Luke Pavicich followed up his season-high 39 save performance in the first game of the series by stopping 37 WMU shots. It was the second-most saves he has made in a single game this season.
GAME NOTABLES
- With the opening goal, Kyle Smolen extended his goal scoring streak to three consecutive games. He's now extended his point scoring streak to five games which includes six points
- Second multi-goal game for Cullen Potter this season. His career first two-goal game was against Robert Morris on Jan. 3.
- Third multi-assist game and eighth multi-point game for Bennett Schimek this season. He reached the 20-assist plateau with his assist on Cullen Potter's second goal of the game. Schimek is the third Sun Devil to reach 20 assists on the season after Lukas Sillinger and Noah Beck.
- The Sun Devils killed all five power play chances for the Broncos over the course of the weekend series. The unit now ranks 15th in the NCAA
- Lukas Sillinger leads the NCHC in assists in conference play with 20 in 19 games
- Artem Shlaine's 28 points in 21 conference games continues to lead the NCHC and his 227 faceoff wins is best in league play
First Period
The Sun Devils got the party started early as Kyle Smolen deflected an Anthony Dowd shot into the net at the 4:54 mark. After breaking the ice, ASU continued to control the period with physicality and scoring chances. WMU's Samuel Sjolund was called for tripping at the 12:15 mark, but ASU was unable to convert on the power play. Luke Pavicich made some crucial saves to preserve the lead, and ASU took a 1-0 advantage into the middle frame.
Second Period
Zach Nehring scored in the beginning of the period to tie the score for WMU. Shortly after, WMU received a power play when Ty Jackson was called for slashing. ASU caught a break on the penalty kill when a Liam Valente shot rang off the post. While on the same power play, Valente was assessed with a slashing penalty. Both teams proceeded to get prime scoring chances, but the goaltenders stood tall. At 9:06 of the period, Cullen Potter created magic as he evaded a defender and pinpointed a wrist shot to put ASU back in front. The score remained 2-1 for the rest of the period and ASU headed into the third with the lead.
Third Period
The final frame started with four-on-four action after Ty Murchison and Iiro Hakkarainen were called for roughing at the end of the second. WMU took advantage of the open ice as Zack Sharp tied the game early in the period. Soon after however, ASU's magic man delivered once more. Cullen Potter double-dipped for his second goal of the contest to give ASU a 3-2 lead. Down by one, WMU heavily peppered Luke Pavicich and at the 12:59 mark, Liam Valente leveled the score at three. ASU went on a power play after Zack Sharp was called for roughing, but couldn't capitalize despite some good looks. WMU then got a power play of its own when Cruz Lucius was called for slashing. ASU's penalty kill came through, and after the clock hit zero a winner was not decided as the game headed for overtime.
Overtime
Both teams traded great chances to start overtime. At the 2:49 mark, Iiro Hakkarainen scored on a breakaway to win the game for WMU.
QUOTABLES:
Head Coach Greg Powers
On the biggest factors in the result:
"It was just a slugfest both ways, and they threw the last punch unfortunately in overtime. Managing pucks, they're just so on top of you with pressure and puck pressure. The best that we've seen all year. Their third goal was managing a puck coming out of our zone and it was unfortunate, but it's hockey and it's the way it goes."
On what the seniors mean to this team:
"I kind of touched on it pregame. The new guys that are here for a year, they made such a huge impact on our program. We have a ton of hockey in front of us still, right? Huge road series and then obviously playoffs. And then it's kind of a changing of the guard, right? You know, you got Ty Murchison and Ethan Szmagaj and Benji Eckerle, the last guys that played at Oceanside. Benji was on our all road team during the COVID season, and it's a bummer we couldn't get this one for him tonight, but this isn't going to be our last home game. That's the good news."
On the team's ability to play against the top teams in the nation:
"We were right there to sweep arguably the best team in the country. But they showed why they're number three. They punched back all weekend. Last night we threw the last punch that knocked them out. Tonight, they got a bounce in overtime and the kid buried it. It was a hell of a move and it's like how our overtimes have gone. We had two really good chances to win the game and their goalie made some big saves."
Sophomore forward Kyle Smolen
On what he's learned from the senior class:
"Everything from how you carry yourselves outside the rink, how to take care of your business away from the rink, at the rink, everything. Some of these guys were here when this wasn't even a thing. These guys paved the way for us to be able to do what we do on a daily basis and it doesn't go forgotten. It's unmatched."
On some positives from the night:
"Something that's positive that we can take away is, we established a forecheck from start to finish. Some games we were kind of sitting back, plays here and there, but there's a lot of positives to take away. There's definitely some negatives, but we just have to take our medicine."
Freshman forward Cullen Potter
On what he's learned from the senior class:
"They paved the way for us and for me coming in as a younger kid. They showed me the way, how to handle myself, and really helped me grow up as a person."
On the power play unit:
"I think we tidied some things up. I thought we made some plays on the second one, we had some good chances, but ultimately we didn't bury it. We just have to get back to work and get better."
UP NEXT
Arizona State will hit the road to take on Omaha in the final regular season series on Feb. 28 and Mar. 1.