ASU sophomore forward Mike Cummings attempts to score against Minot State defenseman Eric Bollefer during the second period of a home game on Nov. 14, 2014 at Oceanside Arena in Tempe. ASU won 4-2. (Photo by Stephanie Specht)No. 2 ASU (18-2) had to scrap its way to a 4-2 win against No. 7 Minot State (10-8) on Friday night at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.
Literally.
A scrum midway through the third period was just a part of a brutal night on both sides, as each team brought a high level of physicality and chipiness to the game.
Minot State jumped out of the gates early, bringing the energy early on a beating the Sun Devils to several loose pucks.
The Beavers used their hustle to their advantage early on, as forward Jeremy Johnson intercepted a pass by ASU sophomore defenseman Connor Schmidt and fired a backhanded shot past sophomore goaltender Robert Levin to give Minot State a 1-0 lead with 18:18 left in the opening period.
ASU’s offense finally starting clicking midway through the first, generating several chances until sophomore forward Michael Cummings’ wrist shot finally got past Minot State goaltender Riley Hengen to knot things up at a goal apiece with 6:40 l
ASU sophomore forward Sean Murphy protects the puck against Minot State defenseman Eric Bollefer during the second period of a home game on Nov. 14, 2014 at Oceanside Arena in Tempe. ASU won 4-2. (Photo by Stephanie Specht)eft in the period.
Both sides played a very up-and-down second period, with neither side really taking control of play. ASU benefitted from some great play by Levin, including a diving save across goal to stop an otherwise wide-open opportunity from the point.
Everything finally clicked with 7:31 to go in the second for ASU, as sophomore forward Tommy Cooney took the forward pass from freshman forward Connor Mailey and slapped it past Hengen to give the Sun Devils the 2-1 lead.
“I just kind of tried the best that I could to skate to an area, and (Connor Mailey and Chris Burkemper) usually find me,” Cooney said. “I just had to get it on net somehow or I’d get yelled at by coach (Powers).”
Cooney crashed into the net after scoring, which goes to show his hard-working and even reckless style of play.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Cooney said. “It doesn’t really bother me.”
ASU tacked onto that lead early in the third period, capitalizing on the end of a power play and scoring after senior forward Liam Norris knocked in a rebound off the shot by sophomore forward Eric Rivard.
“It was good to finally get some production on the power play,” Norris said. “I got lucky. It just bounced to me, and yeah it was a big insurance goal.”
Less than a minute into another ASU power play, chaos broke out.
An ASU shot was delivered on net, and as Hengen appeared to smother the puck Rivard knocked Hengen off his feet. Both sides exchanged blows and words, with some Minot State players even retaliating against Rivard.
As a result of the play Rivard, along with Minot State’s Eric Bollefer and Nick Zern, were each sent to the box for substantial periods of time.
“I think that (Riley Hengen) was a little bit rattled, diving and selling it,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “(The penalty) wasn’t that bad. It was just hockey. No big deal.”
ASU would right the ship by tacking on a power play goal just seconds later to seal the win, this time off the stick of sophomore forward Chris Burkemper.
Minot State would cut the lead to 4-2 off a goal by forward Dwight Lee, but didn’t manage to create many other opportunities.
No. 2 ASU will host Illinois next week, starting the two-game set on Friday night. Puck drop is expected for 7:30 p.m. from Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- Prior to Friday’s game, ASU called up freshman defenseman Liam Pues from their Division II team to make his Division I debut. Powers was impressed by the rookie’s effort.
“Liam (Pues) did great,” he said. “He had a rough start with a penalty on his very first shift, but he recovered nicely. He was mistake-free. He kept things simple and was big, used his reach. He was an asset out there.”
- With the series sweep of Minot State, ASU will finish a perfect 4-0 against the Beavers during their regular season match ups in 2014-15.
“There was a point in time where we really struggled to beat (Minot State),” Powers said. “I think now we’ve won six straight against these guys and we may see them again at nationals. Good team, but a good sign when you can beat somebody four times that is good and in that short of a time frame.”
- After going one for eight on the power play on Thursday night, ASU was one for four in such situations Friday.
THREE STARS
Third Star: Robert Levin, ASU (21 saves, 2 GA)
Second Star: Liam Norris, ASU (one goal)
First Star: Tommy Cooney, ASU (GW goal, one assist)
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @fardaya15
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