Arizona State hockey is back
Friday night saw the official return of Arizona State hockey at Mullett Arena. Last weekend, the Devils hosted ACHA foe Arizona where they knocked off their in-state rival 16-0.
To begin the 2023 campaign ASU welcomed the No. 15 Merrimack Warriors to Mullett Arena. The Warriors were also coming off a preseason win of their own against Sacred Heart beating them in overtime.
Throughout the week ASU coach Greg Powers preached puck management and defense between the faceoff circles.
If ASU wanted any chance of winning they would need to control the puck and fight hard against one of the best puck battling teams in the NCAA.
The first period
The beginning of the game saw Merrimack come out hot and heavy, firing shot after shot at Arizona State goalie TJ Semtimphelter. Despite facing double-digit shots within the first ten minutes of the game Semtimphelter stood his ground and did not allow anything past him.
Kopperud mentioned the slow start saying, “We had energy, but we were a little nervous too, and finally after the first period we calmed down and just kept going from there.”
After the slow start for ASU, they settled into the game nicely creating multiple chances throughout the second half of period number one.
Arizona State forward Lukas Sillinger had the first real chance for the Devils having an odd man rush into the Warriors zone. Sillinger mishandled the puck and the chance died just like that.
It wasn’t long before the Devils had yet another chance to put themselves in the lead when Jackson Niedermayer ripped a wrister at Borgiel. Luckily for Borgiel, the post saved him from conceding a goal and the scoreless tie would continue.
Tensions flare
Seemingly one of the biggest moments of the game came in the first period between ASU’s Ty Murchison and Merrimack’s Matt Copponi. Murchison laid an elbow to the head of a Merrimack player, none to the pleasure of Copponi.
Copponi retaliated by cross-checking Murchison in the back, also receiving a penalty.
Murchison was tabbed with a five-minute major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct which saw him hit the showers early. Initially, the referees, Tom Dellafranco and Stan Szcurek, did not call a major penalty on Copponi for his actions. A minor penalty was called but nothing after that, much to the dismay of Arizona State head coach Greg Powers.
After a second look from the ASU bench Powers decided to challenge a missed major penalty and he was successful in doing so.
After a short review, Copponi was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct as well. Following the scrum things settled down for the rest of the first period.
At the end of the first period, the scoreboard read 0-0 despite numerous chances for both sides.
The second period
The tensions between the two teams carried over into an exciting second period. To begin the second period the Warriors came out just as hot as the first period.
Luckily for the Devils, defenseman Ethan Szmagaj made a daring dive in his own zone to stop a two-on-one. After the initial threat from the Warriors things turned up to another level in the physicality department.
Just 90 seconds into the second period Merrimack’s Mark Gallant got a charging penalty.
Last week, ASU had a solid power play in their preseason game against Arizona but there was some concern about this week’s version. The first Devil’s power play lasted all of ten seconds when Tim Lovell was called for tripping.
The Devils were unable to get any momentum from their first power play of the game as it was a short one.
After the two penalties, the teams played four on four hockey, opening up the ice for some scoring opportunities.
Merrimack had a quick chance to begin the four-on-four, a quick two-on-one, but the chance was broken up by another diving effort, this time by defenseman Brandon Tabakin.
After a great defensive play from Tabakin, the Devil’s offense finally created some chances of their own.
Arizona State hockey offensive chances
Matthew Kopperud and Ryan O’Reilly both had chances in close. Koppeud ripped a slapper that hit the intersection between the crossbar and the post. Meanwhile, for O’Reilly, he lost possession of the puck in close resulting in a failed chance for the Devils.
After a calm few minutes, things finally picked up once again but not how ASU wanted it to. O’Reilly was nabbed for tripping and the Devils would be back on the penalty kill.
After having some mixed puck luck on the kill last season things finally seemed to be on the up and up.
The Devils easily killed off the Merrimack power play with great forechecking and an aggressive pursuit of the puck. The penalty kill for the Devils turned all of the momentum back in their favor for a good few minutes.
Brian Chambers had a great look right in front of the net but was denied by Borgiel; Sillinger had a breakaway down the ice but was stick-checked at the last second; lastly, Dylan Jackson had a rebound chance off the Sillinger breakaway but Borgiel continued to stand tall.
After a calm in the action for a couple of minutes, Merrimack found themselves in trouble yet again.
Benji Eckerle was tripped by Merrimack’s Mac Welsher, sending him to the penalty box. The power play for the Devils started off with great puck movement and good looks but nothing in the back of the net.
The second half of the power play saw a much more aggressive Warriors penalty kill resulting in a successful penalty kill.
After a great kill by the Warriors, they made yet another error.
Kyle Smolen drew a penalty on Merrimack’s Liam Dennison giving the Devils yet another chance on the power play late in the period.
This instance did not go the way the Devils wanted in any form or fashion.
The Warriors were able to easily kill off the Devils’ power play and get into the locker room still tied and in the game.
After two periods it was still a scoreless tie.
The third period
Through two periods it was anyone’s game for the taking.
Coming out of the locker room the Warriors would start right where they left off, on the penalty kill. A minute into the third period Tabakin drew yet another penalty, this one on Merrimack’s Mac Welsher yet again.
The Devils’ power play had done nothing to scare the Warriors’ penalty kill to this point and nothing would change.
The Devils’ power play continued to disappoint all night long not getting any chances near the net.
“Power play had some good looks…. We had a lot of zone time, pur entries were really good we just need to find the back of the net,” Powers said after the game.
The Warriors survived yet another mistake and still had a chance to win the game in regulation.
Off of the penalty kill, the Warriors regained the momentum giving themselves several good looks at the net. Merrimack’s Christian Felton and Mac Welsher both had excellent looks at the net off of several rebounds but nothing went home.
Semptimphelter stood strong in the net and kept the game tied at 0-0.
Just a few moments after a near go-ahead goal Arizona State hockey had some issues of their own.
While attempting to go for the puck ASU’s Charlie Schoen ran into a Warrior player without the puck taking an interference penalty.
Despite the mistake from Schoen, the Devil’s penalty remained strong and sturdy. Tabakin and Lovell manned the strong first penalty kill line with a more aggressive forecheck and pursuit of the puck yet again.
The Devils would easily kill off the Warriors’ power play and keep the game within reach.
Power play issues
After a dull few minutes of fighting for position in the neutral zone, Merrimack made yet another seemingly costly mistake. Tyler Young for the Warriors would be sent to the box, this one for roughing.
After an unsuccessful first five power plays, Arizona State would look to capitalize on their six power play of the night.
Unfortunately, only one chance came for the Devils on a Tim Lovell slap shot but Borgiel stood strong in the crease and kept the Warriors in it.
After six power plays, ASU had yet to capitalize on a single one.
The next power play chance for Arizona State didn’t take long. Just 90 seconds later, Dylan Jackson drew a tripping penalty against Merriack’s Luke Weilandt.
It seemed like this was ASU’s time to slam the door shut and finally get a power play goal.
The drinking word of the night was “Merrimack is back on full strength” and yet again that is what occurred.
The Warriors’ defense was mightily aggressive on the penalty kill giving ASU no looks at the net. After not converting, ASU had seen seven power plays and did not score a single goal.
The remaining three minutes of the game went by quickly without any contest. The game was headed for overtime.
Arizona State hockey vs Merrimack heads to OT
The last time ASU had played an overtime game was their season finale last season against Long Island University. They ended up winning that game by a score of 2-1.
Just as they had in every period, the Warriors came out hot yet again.
Lovell was immediately staring down two Warriors forwards and made a miraculous play to keep the game going. As they had done all night Merrimack committed yet another penalty, this one in a huge situation.
Despite going 0-7 in regulation on the power play, spirits were high for the Devils special teams unit.
On this particular power play ASU had many good looks but yet again could not convert on any of them.
ASU finished the night 0-8 on the power play, one of their worst performances in team history.
Despite not converting on the power play, ASU found a way to win the game in a different way. Matthew Kopperud found himself at the right place and right time.
Kopperud batted the puck out of mid-air and put it in the back of the net giving the Devils a season-opening win.
After the game, Kopperud said, “You sort of blur out for a minute until Timmy jumps on you… you’re just trying to score and then it just goes in and you’re not thinking about it.”
Looking ahead for Arizona State hockey
ASU is back on Saturday against No.15 Merrimack yet again. The puck drop is set for 5:00 p.m. local time.
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