(Photo: Allyson Cummings/WCSN)
The Sun Devils hit the ice at Oceanside Arena with at full strength, defeating No 6 Delaware in an overtime thriller 3-2.
Captain Canada would seal the victory in the end, as he put the puck between the pipes for the game-winner after a nice feed from Faiz Khan. The top-ranked Sun Devils, continue their win streak, now up to 12-0.
“Some of the calls made absolutely no sense, but we overcame it,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said. “They got a really lucky power play goal. It wasn’t a result of anything our [penalty kill] did wrong. The [penalty kill] did very well.”
That would change with 3:15 left to go in regulation. Forward Wes Bonnell’s wrist shot tied the game 2-2 and ultimately sending the game into a 4 on 4, sudden-death overtime.
Chippy play would best characterize this game. The Blue Hens, trying to make up from Thursday’s 7-2 loss, opened the beginning minutes of the game by pushing the puck towards ASU’s zone. Their momentum would be stifled with 9:56 left to go, as the friction between the two teams peaked.
ACHA points leader Kale Dolinksi and Delaware forward Adam Lynch were sent to the box for roughing. The refs would later tack on a 5-minute major penalty on Blue Hens forward Matthew Santucci for spearing.
4 minutes later, junior forward Faiz Khan capitalized on the uncommon penalty by banking the puck from the top of the crossbar and behind Delaware goalie Patrick Rochefort.
“Delaware’s got something that we’re chasing,” Powers said. “Two years ago they won a national championship …so they know what it takes to win. [But] we want to approach every game the same.”
Less than 30 seconds off the clock in the third period, Dolinski would get goal No. 9 on the year with linemates Liam Norris and Danny McAuliffe garnering assists.
After Sun Devil defenseman Brett Blomgren was called on a holding penalty, Delaware’s Alex Guerere would strike back: giving the Blue Hens their first power play goal of the night and put them behind by one.
“They need to taste adversity. They hadn’t had a lot of it. As long as they continue to pull through when things aren’t going our way, then I’m happy,” Powers said.
Next on ASU’s target list is an in-state opponent, as the Northern Arizona University Ice Jacks make their way south into Tempe on Saturday at 7:30. Watch the live broadcast at http://cronkitesports.com/live-broadcasts
