Arizona State lost a difficult one.
Ever since the bye week, Arizona State hockey had been struggling, swept by North Dakota, it split the series with Colorado College and dropped the first game to St. Cloud State, giving them just two points in the last five games.
That five-game stretch dropped ASU (6-10-1 19 points) to eight in the NCHC, barely holding on to a spot in the conference tournament.
The Sun Devils were looking to salvage a three-point weekend against The St. Cloud State Huskies.
ASU’s power play got its first opportunity just five minutes into the game, as junior center Verner Miettinen went to the box for a two-minute tripping call.
ASU’s power play delivered on their first opportunity, as freshman Ben Kevan’s shot was pad saved by Huskie’s goalie Patriks Berzins before junior center Sean McGurn found the rebound and tucked it in to give the Devils a 1-0 lead early.
Shortly after the goal, St. Cloud had their first chance a man up, when ASU was called for too many men on the ice.
ASU’s penalty kill held strong, allowing just one shot on goal during the power play and keeping it 1-0.
With 6:12 left in the first period, Huskies senior defenseman Max Smolinski fired a shot from the blue line that went over the left pad of freshman goalie Sam Urban, tying the game at 1-1.
The score remained knotted at 1 all heading into the first intermission.
Three minutes into the second period, ASU freshman defenseman Richard Baran took a two-minute holding penalty.
ASU’s penalty kill held strong once again, not allowing a single shot on goal during the Huskies power play.
Just two minutes later, ASU’s power play got their second opportunity off a boarding call on junior winger Jack Reimann.
The Devils power play was cut short when Sam Alfano committed an interference penalty making it 4 on 4 before a 1:11 power play.
Both teams went back to full strength, until ASU freshman Justin Kipkie took a tripping penalty.
During the power play, highly touted prospect Barrett Hall found his teammate Tyson Gross at the front of the net for a backhand finish making it 2-1 Huskies.
The Sun Devils responded 21 seconds into the third, as sophomore Noah Powell forced a turnover in the offensive zone, and capitalized on the turnover with a smooth wrister past Berzins to tie the game at 2.
The game wouldn’t stay knotted for long, as junior Daimon Gardner fired a wild pass net front, off the skate of St. Cloud State freshman Noah Urness to give St. Cloud State the lead back 3-2.
Halfway through the period, ASU’s power play got another opportunity as Huskie’s senior Adam Ingram went off for tripping.
St. Cloud State’s kill held up, keeping it 3-2.
With 3:55 left in regulation, ASU showcased some beautiful team passing leading to a backdoor goal from the freshman Carmelo Crandell to tie the game.
As ASU was making a final push to get the win in regulation, they were able to draw a hooking penalty with 1:27, to give them a power play at the end of the game.
However, disaster struck on ASU’s power play, as the puck was cleared out of the offensive zone, Urban skated to almost the blue line to corral the puck, before firing a pass that ended up at the stick of the Gross, who skated around Urban with ease and had a wide-open net for the shorthanded goal, giving St. Cloud State the lead with 37 seconds left, giving St. Cloud State a 4-3 win.
ASU has lost 5 of their last 6 games.
ASU head coach Greg Powers took personal responsibility postgame.
“At the end of the day we have not been able to get it done in close games this year,” Powers said. “That falls squarely on me, I haven’t been able to get through to this team and convince them what it takes to win games like tonight, last night, North Dakota, you name it,”
The third Star was Kevan, who had two assists in the loss.
The second star was Urness, who had a goal and an assist.
The first star was Gross, who had two goals including the game winner.
ASU remains in eighth place after the zero-point weekend.
The Devils hope to bounce back next week on the road against No. 4 Western Michigan.
