PITTSBURGH – The offense was firing on cylinders in Arizona State ice hockey's dominant 8-3 win over Robert Morris on Sunday night. Team captain Tyler Gratton tallied his first career hat trick while alternate captain Lukas Sillinger issued a five-point night to reach 100 career points. His 26 points this season ranks third among all NCAA skaters.
The road sweep is ASU's first since the 2021-22 season. ASU's 56 shots on goal is a new single game program record. The previous record was held at 53 shots on goal.
Sillinger completed a five point night with one goal and four assists. He's closely followed by defenseman Tim Lovell who tallied four assists. Tyler Gratton (3G), Anthony Dowd (2G, 1A) and Matthew Kopperud (1G, 2A) all finished the night with three points apiece.
Kopperud notched the game-winning goal on Sunday night to take the country's lead with six on the season. His nine power play goals also leads all skaters in the NCAA.
ASU finished the weekend in Pittsburgh with 12 goals and only four against.
Game Notables
Six minutes into the opening frame, Ty Murchison was assessed an interference penalty, giving RMU the first power play chance of the game. With chaos in front of Semptimphelter's crease, the Colonials scored first to take the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Ryan Alexander spent two minutes in the box for tripping, which ASU subsequently killed.
ASU could only stay out of the box for three minutes before it was assessed another penalty. At the 15 minute mark, Benji Eckerle went to the box for cross checking. RMU once again was able to capitalize on the man advantage, netting its second power play goal of the period for the 2-0 lead.
The Sun Devils power play unit got its first look at 17:52 and Anthony Dowd scored as the time expired for an ASU even strength goal. Dowd was assisted by Jackson Niedermayer and Tim Lovell.
Second Period
Two minutes into the middle frame, RMU went to the box for hooking. One minute into the man-advantage, captain Tyler Gratton scored with assists from Lukas Sillinger and Tim Lovell. Only two minutes later, RMU committed another penalty, giving the ASU power play unit that was heated and firing on all cylinders another chance on the advantage. Tyler Gratton answered the call once again, scoring ASU's third goal of the night with assists from Lukas Sillinger and Matthew Kopperud.
Mere minutes passed before ASU's power play was back in action. Tyler Gratton scored his second PPG to put the Devils up 4-1. Halfway through the period, ASU was on another power play chance that saw Matthew Kopperud net his third power play goal of the weekend. He was assisted by Sillinger and Lovell.
After scoring ASU's empty net goal in game one, Ty Murchison was hungry for a "real" goal. The junior defenseman did just that at 15 minutes in the third period with assists from Sillinger and Ryan Alexander.
While even strength, Tyler Gratton scored his first career hat trick minutes later with assists from Ethan Szmagaj and Kopperud.
The five ASU goals in the second period is the most scored by the Sun Devils in a single period so far this season.
Third Period
Ninety seconds into the final frame, Dowd netted his second goal of the game with assists from Charlie Schoen and Lovell. After notching four assists, Lukas Sillinger finally got in on the scoring action, netting ASU's eighth goal of the game at 12:52 in the period.
Up Next: ASU finishes the calendar year at the Adirondack Winter Invitational on Dec. 29-30 in Lake Placid, NY.
The road sweep is ASU's first since the 2021-22 season. ASU's 56 shots on goal is a new single game program record. The previous record was held at 53 shots on goal.
Sillinger completed a five point night with one goal and four assists. He's closely followed by defenseman Tim Lovell who tallied four assists. Tyler Gratton (3G), Anthony Dowd (2G, 1A) and Matthew Kopperud (1G, 2A) all finished the night with three points apiece.
Kopperud notched the game-winning goal on Sunday night to take the country's lead with six on the season. His nine power play goals also leads all skaters in the NCAA.
ASU finished the weekend in Pittsburgh with 12 goals and only four against.
Game Notables
- In the second period, ASU scored five goals, the most in a period this season
- Tyler Gratton scored his first career hat trick. All three goals were scored in the second period
- Lukas Sillinger is the third-highest point scorer in the NCAA with 26 points. His 20 assists this year ties at second in the country.
- First ASU road sweep since Jan. 14-15, 2022 at RIT (2-1, 5-1)
- Tim Lovell put up a six-point weekend in Pittsburgh with six assists in two games. His 18 assists this year is tied at sixth in the NCAA.
- Lukas Sillinger notched a seven-point weekend with one goal and six assists.
- Matthew Kopperud competed in his 100th NCAA game on Sunday. He scored a power play goal - his third of the weekend - to further extend his NCAA lead with nine this season.
- TJ Semptimphelter made his 15th start of the season and backstopped the Sun Devils with 24 saves
- ASU is now 2-0-3 when trailing at the end of the first period
- ASU's eight goals ties the program record for most goals scored in a game.
Six minutes into the opening frame, Ty Murchison was assessed an interference penalty, giving RMU the first power play chance of the game. With chaos in front of Semptimphelter's crease, the Colonials scored first to take the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, Ryan Alexander spent two minutes in the box for tripping, which ASU subsequently killed.
ASU could only stay out of the box for three minutes before it was assessed another penalty. At the 15 minute mark, Benji Eckerle went to the box for cross checking. RMU once again was able to capitalize on the man advantage, netting its second power play goal of the period for the 2-0 lead.
The Sun Devils power play unit got its first look at 17:52 and Anthony Dowd scored as the time expired for an ASU even strength goal. Dowd was assisted by Jackson Niedermayer and Tim Lovell.
Second Period
Two minutes into the middle frame, RMU went to the box for hooking. One minute into the man-advantage, captain Tyler Gratton scored with assists from Lukas Sillinger and Tim Lovell. Only two minutes later, RMU committed another penalty, giving the ASU power play unit that was heated and firing on all cylinders another chance on the advantage. Tyler Gratton answered the call once again, scoring ASU's third goal of the night with assists from Lukas Sillinger and Matthew Kopperud.
Mere minutes passed before ASU's power play was back in action. Tyler Gratton scored his second PPG to put the Devils up 4-1. Halfway through the period, ASU was on another power play chance that saw Matthew Kopperud net his third power play goal of the weekend. He was assisted by Sillinger and Lovell.
After scoring ASU's empty net goal in game one, Ty Murchison was hungry for a "real" goal. The junior defenseman did just that at 15 minutes in the third period with assists from Sillinger and Ryan Alexander.
While even strength, Tyler Gratton scored his first career hat trick minutes later with assists from Ethan Szmagaj and Kopperud.
The five ASU goals in the second period is the most scored by the Sun Devils in a single period so far this season.
Third Period
Ninety seconds into the final frame, Dowd netted his second goal of the game with assists from Charlie Schoen and Lovell. After notching four assists, Lukas Sillinger finally got in on the scoring action, netting ASU's eighth goal of the game at 12:52 in the period.
Up Next: ASU finishes the calendar year at the Adirondack Winter Invitational on Dec. 29-30 in Lake Placid, NY.