COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The No. 12/13 Arizona State ice hockey team (10-3-2) tussled with the Tigers on Friday night, coming away with a shootout win and 2-2 tie against Colorado College (7-5-1) at Ed Robson Arena. Physicality was the name of the game as the teams combined for 14 penalties and 28 minutes in the box.
Benji Eckerle and Tyler Gratton scored ASU's goals while goaltender TJ Semptimphelter made 32 saves through overtime.
ASU's power play unit successfully converted against CC to maintain its reign as the fourth-best squad in the NCAA. ASU's 18 power play goals this season is second-most in college hockey.
The Sun Devils look to finish the Tigers in regulation in Saturday's rematch at 6 p.m. MT at Ed Robson Arena.
GAME NOTABLES
CC struck first with a goal seven minutes into the opening frame to take the 1-0 lead. A pair of consecutive Sun Devil penalties on Jackson Niedermayer and Tim Lovell saw ASU's penalty kill unit get some work in early. Both skaters were called for high sticking. The Sun Devils killed both Tiger chances to keep the score within one. Despite being down to four men for four minutes, the Sun Devils outshot the Tigers 18-10.
Second Period
ASU wasted no time chasing down CC's lead as senior forward Benji Eckerle scored his second goal of the season just two minutes and 40 seconds into the period. He was assisted by freshmen pair Kyle Smolen and Matthew Romer.
The nation's fifth-best power play unit took the ice halfway through the frame after an interference call on CC. Ninety seconds into the man-advantage, Brian Chambers was called for tripping, putting ASU's kill unit out for the third time. After another successful kill, ASU was given another chance on the power play that saw Tyler Gratton net ASU's second goal off a scrum in the crease with assists from Jackson Niedermayer and Anthony Dowd. ASU continued to outshoot CC through the middle frame, 13-11.
Third Period
The Tigers answered back almost immediately with a game-tying goal at 2:18. Three minutes later, Cade Alami went to the box for the second time after an interference call. Five more minutes passed without a penalty before ASU ended up in the box again. A high sticking call on CC just nine seconds into its power play put the game into four-on-four hockey. That didn't last long as Tim Lovell was called for cross checking, forcing the Sun Devils into four-on-three play.
Overtime
The Sun Devils pushed the game to overtime - their seventh time facing additional play after regulation this season. Neither team could capitalize in the five-minute three-on-three sudden death overtime. ASU won the game in a shootout, but the match goes down as a tie in NCAA records.
Benji Eckerle and Tyler Gratton scored ASU's goals while goaltender TJ Semptimphelter made 32 saves through overtime.
ASU's power play unit successfully converted against CC to maintain its reign as the fourth-best squad in the NCAA. ASU's 18 power play goals this season is second-most in college hockey.
The Sun Devils look to finish the Tigers in regulation in Saturday's rematch at 6 p.m. MT at Ed Robson Arena.
GAME NOTABLES
- With an assist on Eckerle's goal, Matthew Romer tallied his first NCAA point in only his second collegiate appearance.
- The Sun Devils ate shots throughout the game - blocking 24 shots, the most in a single game for ASU this season.
- ASU reached 32 shots on goal after only two periods. The last time the Sun Devils reached 30-plus shots on goal through two frames was against Stonehill on Nov. 4, 2023
- The Sun Devils accrued eight penalties through three periods - the most in a single game this season.
- ASU moved to 4-1-2 in overtime games this season.
CC struck first with a goal seven minutes into the opening frame to take the 1-0 lead. A pair of consecutive Sun Devil penalties on Jackson Niedermayer and Tim Lovell saw ASU's penalty kill unit get some work in early. Both skaters were called for high sticking. The Sun Devils killed both Tiger chances to keep the score within one. Despite being down to four men for four minutes, the Sun Devils outshot the Tigers 18-10.
Second Period
ASU wasted no time chasing down CC's lead as senior forward Benji Eckerle scored his second goal of the season just two minutes and 40 seconds into the period. He was assisted by freshmen pair Kyle Smolen and Matthew Romer.
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— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) December 2, 2023
The nation's fifth-best power play unit took the ice halfway through the frame after an interference call on CC. Ninety seconds into the man-advantage, Brian Chambers was called for tripping, putting ASU's kill unit out for the third time. After another successful kill, ASU was given another chance on the power play that saw Tyler Gratton net ASU's second goal off a scrum in the crease with assists from Jackson Niedermayer and Anthony Dowd. ASU continued to outshoot CC through the middle frame, 13-11.
Third Period
The Tigers answered back almost immediately with a game-tying goal at 2:18. Three minutes later, Cade Alami went to the box for the second time after an interference call. Five more minutes passed without a penalty before ASU ended up in the box again. A high sticking call on CC just nine seconds into its power play put the game into four-on-four hockey. That didn't last long as Tim Lovell was called for cross checking, forcing the Sun Devils into four-on-three play.
Overtime
The Sun Devils pushed the game to overtime - their seventh time facing additional play after regulation this season. Neither team could capitalize in the five-minute three-on-three sudden death overtime. ASU won the game in a shootout, but the match goes down as a tie in NCAA records.