Coming off of two rebound wins at home versus Southern New Hampshire University, the Sun Devils are headed away from home once again, this time for a two-game stand at the Khol Center in Madison, Wi against the Division I UW Badgers.
The Badgers (0-3-3) have yet to win a game this season, and they are returning home from a three-loss road trip that included games at Boston College, Boston University and at Ferris State.
"Wisconsin is really good, they are a really talented team," head coach Greg Powers said Wednesday. "They are talented, so our expectations going into this weekend is the same everywhere we go, we are going to compete and give ourselves a chance to win both games."
The puck drops at 4 p.m. for both Friday and Saturday's game.
Players to Watch
Wisconsin
No. 12: Forward Grant Besse
No. 30: Goalie Matt Jurisik
The Badgers have scored 11 goals over their previous six games, yet managed to either lose or tie all of them, including a 6-0 rout by perennial contender Boston College. Junior forward Grant Besse has two goals, among two other players for the highest number on the team, along with a team best 5 points. Sophomore forward Austin Rockwood and freshman forward Seamus Malone also have three assists on the year for the Badgers.
Ultimately, the win is going to have to come from the goalie position, a spot where two players have spit time for Wisconsin thus far.
Freshman goaltender Matt Jurisik leads the goalie crew with just over 300 minutes on ice in five games played, letting in 18 goals on 163 shots, a tall task for any goaltender let alone a first-year starter.
"He's a really talented kid, but he is young," Powers said. "(He's) going to be good."
Arizona State
No. 47: Defensemen Nicholas Gushue
No. 44: Defensemen Joey Raats
No. 31: Goalie Ryland Pashovitz
Freshman defenseman Nicholas Gushue did not practice on Wednesday for the Sun Devils, but Coach Powers told the media that he would be traveling, taking a few day's rest from a minor injury. After his success against Southern New Hampshire, including a first star performance in ASU's 9-2 rout on Friday, he scored two goals and assisted one other.
Freshman defenseman Joey Raats continued his offensive terror against the Penmen, finishing the home stand with eight points in the Sun Devils first eight games. Raats continues to be paired with graduate defenseman Brock Krygier, and Powers confirmed they will stay together for the near future after seeing success in the two games at home versus SNHU.
With junior goaltender Robert Levin's condition still unknown, freshman Ryland Pashovitz took the majority of reps at practice on Wednesday and can expect to see some time between the pipes after his inspiring one-goal-allowed performance in his start versus SNHU last Saturday. Although he only faced 14 total shots, Pashovitz showed his ability to be a shut-down netminder for the Sun Devils, something they will look for against a Badger's team that will be looking to score early.
Keys to victory
Both clubs will look to get out to early leads in each of the two games in Madison, and will rely on their young goaltenders to hold off shots from all over the ice. The Badgers must plan to continue their power play success, they have converted on 6 of 27 opportunities (.222). Two of Wisconsin's tie games ended with last minute power play goals from Badger players to seal the game at even score.
The Sun Devils will look to continue moderate power play success as well as the Badgers give up just as many power play goals as they score themselves. Look for the defenseman to continue to be involved heavily up front, firing shots to test the freshman goaltender from the blue line and outside the slot. Where ASU has struggled to produce shots against their Division I opponents, the defense of the Badgers might show a more porous look to a Sun Devils team that likes to score in bunches.
Prediction
Game 1: ASU; 4-3 (OT)
Game 2: UW; 3-1
Reach the reporter at csafran@asu.edu and follow @ChrisSafran on Twitter.
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