Mak Barden skates with the puck against Colorado State, Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils beat the Rams 8-0. (Photo by Ben Moffat)No. 2 ASU (13-1) struck fear into the No. 25 Colorado State Rams (8-4) on Halloween night, riding a dominant first period to a 8-0 victory from Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.
After struggling to put together fast starts in their last couple games, ASU came out in charge of Friday’s game from the opening face off. The Sun Devil attack was quick and players were flying around the ice in a frenzied first period.
ASU got on the board first, as freshman defenseman Ed McGovern took the face-off from sophomore forward Tommy Cooney in slapped it past Colorado State goaltender Alex Steidler with 13:56 left in the opening period.
McGovern played the night alongside a new defensive partner in junior defenseman Jordan Young.
It felt good (playing alongside Jordan Young),” McGovern said. “I played with him growing up, so it’s a little different on the ice. But, it worked out well tonight.”
Just a minute and a half later the Sun Devil attack struck again, as Gianni Mangone and Troy Hoban connected with sophomore forward Chris Blessing, who found himself wide open and scored on the breakaway finish for a 2-0 lead.
ASU converted again with 4:06 remaining in the period, with freshman forward Mak Barden getting an open look and firing a wrist shot top shelf in for the 3-0 lead at the end of the first.
ASU coach Greg Powers was impressed with his team’s hot start, stating that it was likely the best 60 minutes the team has played all year.
“The guys responded from what was easily our worst effort (vs. Colorado), and they put together probably the best 60 minutes we have yet this season,” he said. “It’s great to see. It shows good character, and we’re proud of them.”
The Sun Devil success continued into the second period, as ASU broke through again with 7:22 remaining in the period on a slap shot from senior forward Liam Norris off of the Blessing assist.
ASU would score twice more before the period was over, as sophomore forwards Sean Murphy and Ryan Belonger hooked up on a nicely placed one timer. Norris would add his second goal of the game with 26 seconds remaining in the second to extend the lead to 6-0.
“I really liked the (second) line,” Norris said. “Playing with (Eric Rivard) and (Chris Blessing), I played with (Chris Blessing) at the beginning of the year and I think we feed really well off each other. (Eric Rivard) is always going hard, mucking in the corners.”
Defender Edward McGovern checks a Colorado State player, Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils beat the Rams 8-0. (Photo by Ben Moffat)Colorado State had another scare of their own with 3:46 remaining in the second period, as forward Daniel Matrosic took a hard hit along the boards and went down on the ice. After being attended to by trainers, he was eventually helped off the ice with what appeared to be a leg injury.
Both sides were in the midst of a physical battle, with multiple players getting knocked off of their skates.
“(Colorado and Colorado State) are always throwing their body around,” Powers said. “Our guys seemed to respond, and for the most part we surpassed their physicality. I felt we had better and more hits.”
ASU scored again midway through the third, as Barden and sophomore defenseman Jarrod Levos found an open Kyle Bowen to knock in the one-timer in front of net. The goal was Bowen’s first of the year.
McGovern closed things out with a final, breakaway goal, which was his second of the gal to give ASU the 8-0 win.
“I’ve never had a breakaway like that before, and I really didn’t think of anything so I just figured I’d shoot it and I got lucky,” McGovern said.
ASU hosts No. 25 Colorado State Saturday to wrap up a three-game home stand. Puck drop is expected at 7:30 p.m. from Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.
Additional notes:
- After 24 saves in the shutout sophomore goaltender Robert Levin should be in net for ASU tomorrow, Powers said.
- ASU had two players (McGovern, Norris) put together multi-goal performances. The Sun Devils also saw multiple points from Mak Barden, Chris Blessing, Sean Murphy and Tommy Cooney.
- ASU sophomore forward Michael Cummings did not play Friday after sustaining a deep thigh bruise in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Colorado.
THREE STARS:
Third Star: Mak Barden, ASU (one goal, one assist)
Second Star: Ed McGovern, ASU (two goals)
First Star: Liam Norris, ASU (two goals)
Reach the reporter at fardaya@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @fardaya15
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