TEMPE – The No. 16/19 Sun Devil Hockey (5-1-1) team opened its weekend series against the Stonehill Skyhawks (0-8-0) with a gritty, 5-4, overtime victory, continuing Arizona State's undefeated streak at Mullett Arena. Sophomore goaltender Gibson Homer made his second-straight start in net, tallying 26 saves and marking his first NCAA win. Freshman defenseman Anthony Dowd scored his first collegiate goal with assists from Matthew Kopperud and Brian Chambers to seal the win for the maroon and gold.
"It felt great, especially for my first one to be an overtime winner. It was awesome, a great feeling so I'm just so happy that we got the win," Dowd said.
After being down 3-1 going into the third period, ASU scored three unanswered goals in the final regulation frame to tie the game and force overtime. Dowd and Brian Chambers led the point scoring on Friday night, both netting one goal and two assists each for a three-point night. It is the first time this season that a Sun Devil skater has recorded a three-point game. It is Chambers' second career three-point night and Dowd's career first.
Tyler Gratton and Ryan O'Reilly both netted their second goals this season and Matthew Kopperud tied the game, 4-4, on the power play advantage with just under nine minutes to go in the third, for his 27th career power play goal.
"I thought specifically tonight, Brian Chambers and Tyler Gratton were our best players," said head coach Greg Powers. "They put the team on their back and they weren't going to let us lose that game."
Chambers marked his fifth and sixth assists of the season on top of his first goal, hitting seven points in seven games so far this season. He is now tied for the team lead in points with Lukas Sillinger.
The Sun Devils furthered their success at Mullett Arena, remaining undefeated this season when playing at home. The home ice advantage also extends to success in overtime play, as ASU remains undefeated when playing extra minutes in front of a home crowd. ASU is no stranger to fighting back to win the game, moving to 3-0-1 when the opponent strikes first.
"I loved it. I mean, you know, down, 4-1, we kind of flipped the script that happened to us last Friday (at Miami). So we got that back. We stole one back. So that feels good. I'm proud of the guys for sticking with it and fighting through it and finding a way to get a win," said head coach Greg Powers.
GAME NOTABLES
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Second Period
The Sun Devils came out with a new momentum to start the period cutting Stonehill's lead in half. Tyler Gratton scored his second goal of the season with assists from Tucker Ness and Brian Chambers.
Third Period
The final period opened with a Sun Devil power play but once Stonehill gained full strength, the Skyhawks slotted one in the back of the net to make it 4-1. The Sun Devils quickly responded on the other end to cut the lead back in half, 4-2. It marked Ryan O'Reilly's second goal of the season with assists credited to Ethan Szmagaj and Benji Eckerle. Two minutes later, Chambers fired one past Stonehill to get within one, 4-3. Brandon Tabakin and Anthony Dowd each logged an assist.
ASU evened the score, 4-4, thanks to Matthew Kopperud nailing a shot between the pipes while on a power play advantage. Anthony Dowd and Lukas Sillinger each assisted the goal.
Overtime
For the third-straight game, ASU played an extra frame of hockey featuring three-on-three overtime for five minutes or sudden death. Brian Chambers, Lukas Sillinger and Anthony Dowd kicked off overtime play for the Sun Devils. After a too many men on the ice call, Stonehill gained a two minute man-advantage. Gibson Homer and the team came up big on the penalty kill and avoided any trouble. Shortly after, Anthony Dowd followed through on the attack, slipping one into the back of the net for the game winner with asssits from Matthew Kopperud and Brian Chambers.
Sun Devil Head Coach Greg Powers:
On Gibson Homer's first appearance at home:
"I think he was good. He was good when he had to be, you know, I mean, he made some big saves down the stretch to get it to overtime. He made a big one in overtime. So he got his first win. He's got that one off his belt and we're happy for him."
On how the power play goal felt:
"It was good. It's what Matthew Kopperud does. He stepped up, he's, he's a clutch kid and he made a good play there in overtime. You need that out of your leaders. And I thought specifically tonight, Brian Chambers and Tyler Gratton were our best players. They put the team on their back and they weren't going to let us lose that game."
On the familial ties with Stonehill and Sun Devil Hockey:
"I think it was pretty cool for Dana. I mean, he went to Stonehill and his whole family runs that program and, I think he was, he was probably the most relieved guy in the building when we scored that game winner in overtime. I didn't want to be around him if it didn't go that way. So, I'm happy for Dana and, you know, tomorrow we're gonna have to be a lot better."
Sun Devil sophomore goaltender Gibson Homer:
On starting his first game at home tonight:
"It was electric, it was everything that I've dreamed of. Obviously I've been watching games for the past year from the bench. So to finally experience that in-game activity was unreal."
On staying composed the entire overtime period:
"Just the way the guys battled for me in the third period. They did their jobs so I knew I just had to step up and do mine for the win."
On what this type of comeback win says about the team's identity:
"It gives the group confidence to whatever situation may come into the future. No matter the circumstances, we have the talent, we have the grit to finish games off in every way."
Sun Devil freshman defenseman Anthony Dowd:
On getting the game-winning goal:
"It felt great, especially for my first one to be an overtime winner. It was awesome, a great feeling so I'm just so happy that we got the win."
On seeing the play develop to give him the shot on net:
"I kind of knew he was going to try to cross-crease, so I tried to crash the net so I tried to be there. Hopefully be in the right spot in the right time and I was so I just smacked it in."
On being the lead defensive pair with Brandon Tabakin:
"Going into today my mindset was always the same. I didn't really change anything in my routine. I knew I just had to go out there, I got a job that I got to do and just deliver."
"It felt great, especially for my first one to be an overtime winner. It was awesome, a great feeling so I'm just so happy that we got the win," Dowd said.
After being down 3-1 going into the third period, ASU scored three unanswered goals in the final regulation frame to tie the game and force overtime. Dowd and Brian Chambers led the point scoring on Friday night, both netting one goal and two assists each for a three-point night. It is the first time this season that a Sun Devil skater has recorded a three-point game. It is Chambers' second career three-point night and Dowd's career first.
Tyler Gratton and Ryan O'Reilly both netted their second goals this season and Matthew Kopperud tied the game, 4-4, on the power play advantage with just under nine minutes to go in the third, for his 27th career power play goal.
"I thought specifically tonight, Brian Chambers and Tyler Gratton were our best players," said head coach Greg Powers. "They put the team on their back and they weren't going to let us lose that game."
OT game winner ?? First NCAA goal#BeTheTradition /// #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/e3XpTUnjwn
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 4, 2023
Chambers marked his fifth and sixth assists of the season on top of his first goal, hitting seven points in seven games so far this season. He is now tied for the team lead in points with Lukas Sillinger.
The Sun Devils furthered their success at Mullett Arena, remaining undefeated this season when playing at home. The home ice advantage also extends to success in overtime play, as ASU remains undefeated when playing extra minutes in front of a home crowd. ASU is no stranger to fighting back to win the game, moving to 3-0-1 when the opponent strikes first.
"I loved it. I mean, you know, down, 4-1, we kind of flipped the script that happened to us last Friday (at Miami). So we got that back. We stole one back. So that feels good. I'm proud of the guys for sticking with it and fighting through it and finding a way to get a win," said head coach Greg Powers.
GAME NOTABLES
- First series meeting against Stonehill in program history
- ASU is undefeated in Mullett Arena when playing in overtime
- ASU is undefeated when the opponent scores first (3-0-1)
- Friday night was the second comeback victory this season when trailing after the second period, 2-0-0 this year.
- Brandon Tabakin leads the team in plus/minus with a +6 followed by Alex Young (+5) and Brian Chambers (+4)
- 50-percent of the Sun Devils' goals have come in the third period or later with 11 total this season, out of 22 total through seven games
- Tucker Ness tallied his first point of the season, an assist on Gratton's opening goal for the Sun Devils
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Second Period
The Sun Devils came out with a new momentum to start the period cutting Stonehill's lead in half. Tyler Gratton scored his second goal of the season with assists from Tucker Ness and Brian Chambers.
Third Period
The final period opened with a Sun Devil power play but once Stonehill gained full strength, the Skyhawks slotted one in the back of the net to make it 4-1. The Sun Devils quickly responded on the other end to cut the lead back in half, 4-2. It marked Ryan O'Reilly's second goal of the season with assists credited to Ethan Szmagaj and Benji Eckerle. Two minutes later, Chambers fired one past Stonehill to get within one, 4-3. Brandon Tabakin and Anthony Dowd each logged an assist.
ASU evened the score, 4-4, thanks to Matthew Kopperud nailing a shot between the pipes while on a power play advantage. Anthony Dowd and Lukas Sillinger each assisted the goal.
Overtime
For the third-straight game, ASU played an extra frame of hockey featuring three-on-three overtime for five minutes or sudden death. Brian Chambers, Lukas Sillinger and Anthony Dowd kicked off overtime play for the Sun Devils. After a too many men on the ice call, Stonehill gained a two minute man-advantage. Gibson Homer and the team came up big on the penalty kill and avoided any trouble. Shortly after, Anthony Dowd followed through on the attack, slipping one into the back of the net for the game winner with asssits from Matthew Kopperud and Brian Chambers.
Sun Devil Head Coach Greg Powers:
On Gibson Homer's first appearance at home:
"I think he was good. He was good when he had to be, you know, I mean, he made some big saves down the stretch to get it to overtime. He made a big one in overtime. So he got his first win. He's got that one off his belt and we're happy for him."
On how the power play goal felt:
"It was good. It's what Matthew Kopperud does. He stepped up, he's, he's a clutch kid and he made a good play there in overtime. You need that out of your leaders. And I thought specifically tonight, Brian Chambers and Tyler Gratton were our best players. They put the team on their back and they weren't going to let us lose that game."
On the familial ties with Stonehill and Sun Devil Hockey:
"I think it was pretty cool for Dana. I mean, he went to Stonehill and his whole family runs that program and, I think he was, he was probably the most relieved guy in the building when we scored that game winner in overtime. I didn't want to be around him if it didn't go that way. So, I'm happy for Dana and, you know, tomorrow we're gonna have to be a lot better."
Sun Devil sophomore goaltender Gibson Homer:
On starting his first game at home tonight:
"It was electric, it was everything that I've dreamed of. Obviously I've been watching games for the past year from the bench. So to finally experience that in-game activity was unreal."
On staying composed the entire overtime period:
"Just the way the guys battled for me in the third period. They did their jobs so I knew I just had to step up and do mine for the win."
On what this type of comeback win says about the team's identity:
"It gives the group confidence to whatever situation may come into the future. No matter the circumstances, we have the talent, we have the grit to finish games off in every way."
Sun Devil freshman defenseman Anthony Dowd:
On getting the game-winning goal:
"It felt great, especially for my first one to be an overtime winner. It was awesome, a great feeling so I'm just so happy that we got the win."
On seeing the play develop to give him the shot on net:
"I kind of knew he was going to try to cross-crease, so I tried to crash the net so I tried to be there. Hopefully be in the right spot in the right time and I was so I just smacked it in."
On being the lead defensive pair with Brandon Tabakin:
"Going into today my mindset was always the same. I didn't really change anything in my routine. I knew I just had to go out there, I got a job that I got to do and just deliver."