(Photo: Christian Coates/WCSN)
The top-ranked Sun Devils defeated the No. 6 Lindenwood Lions 3-0 in the opening game of their two-game road trip.
For the Devils, who have only managed to score 39 goals in 10 road games, things would not get any easier since their previous two-game sweep against the No. 2-ranked UCO Bronchos in Tempe. For Arizona State, the biggest test of the game would be to stop the Lindenwood first-period attack. The Lions have managed to outscore their opponents 23 goals to just 13 this season.
The Devils proved to be up for the challenge in the first, as they were able to stall the Lions offense all period. Defense seemed to be the emphasis early on, and Arizona State made a statement right out of the gate. However, Arizona State didn’t manage a single goal either, as Liam Norris and Co. was kept in check all period.
After a defensive showing in the first, both teams would look to make a splash on offense and potentially swing momentum in their favor.
ASU would finally manage to break the seal in the second period offensively, after defenseman Connor Schmidt was able to score off of the feed from defenseman Jarrod Levos. Later in the period, forward Michael Cummings would increase the Sun Devil lead to two with an unassisted goal. However, Lindenwood still managed to outshoot Arizona State, 23-18. Although two of those 18 shots did find the back of the net, the Lions didn’t let up much on defense.
Going into the third, the Lions would need to manage some offense of their own.
Arizona State would get on the board first in the third period, after Michael Cummings’ second goal of the night from forward Kyle Bowen. Robert Levin neutralized every opportunity Lindenwood created in front of the net, and managed to shut the Lions out on offense preserving a 3-0 shutout victory for ASU as well as his 20th win of the season.
Tonight seemed to be a showcase of this team’s depth, as regular reserves (Kyle Bowen, Jarrod Levos, and Mak Barden) all made key plays to help lead the Devils to their 24th win of the season.
This match-up also marked the end of forward Sean Murphy’s five-game point streak.
The Devils improve to 24-3 on the season, and will look to take home their 25th win tomorrow in Wentzville in the series finale against Lindenwood.
