TEMPE, Ariz. – With just over 20 seconds left in overtime, the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-8-1) had one last opportunity to end the game before going to a shootout.
It was ASU sophomore forward Cullen Potter who answered the call, going on a solo rush up the left side and, with one quick release, firing one past freshman goaltender Quentin Miller to win the game, 3-2, for ASU.
“It’s always good to score and to get that big win for us; it’s huge,” Potter said. “It’s always good to win on a Saturday night. I was just flying down the left side, got a pass from Smolen, and just shot. I practiced a lot in practice. Just rip it where I know and it went in, it was a good feeling.”
The Sun Devils came into Saturday night’s contest with some extra motivation after getting manhandled, 7-1, by No. 3 Denver (9-4-1) on Friday night.
ASU struck first
Arizona State started fast with a hard forecheck, putting a great amount of pressure on the Pioneers’ defensemen to move the puck in their own zone.
It was freshman forward Carmelo Crandell that got the party started for the maroon and gold, capitalizing on a Miller turnover, and sliding one into the open net to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
With 2:50 left in the first, ASU freshman forward Jack Beck potted his fourth goal of the season off a beautiful spinning assist from junior forward Kyle Smolen to put the Sun Devils in front 2-0 heading into the first intermission.
“I think it’s huge. In many of our past games, we haven’t scored first, and that hurts the team a little bit,” Potter said. “So just to get out in front right away and just keep building on that is really big for us.”
While ASU dominated the first period, the second period was a different story.
Denver responded in the second
The Pioneers fired 20 shots on goal in the second period against ASU senior goaltender Connor Hasley and outshot ASU 19-6 in the period.
With just over five minutes left in the second, it was Denver’s junior forward Sam Harris who was finally able to solve Halsey. Harris put the Pioneers on the board and cut the deficit in half.
Hasley was spectacular all game for the maroon and gold. The Sun Devils goalkeeper tied a season high with 42 saves on 44 shots on goal.
“I think he’d want the first goal back, but man, did he lock it down after that,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “He was tremendous. He made those two huge saves in overtime, which were huge for us and gave us a fighting chance to win.”
ASU’s special teams were efficient all night, killing off four Pioneer power plays while going 1-for-2 on the man-advantage themselves.
“The kill was as good as it gets. It was really good,” Powers said. “You need your goalie to be your best penalty killer, and he was, but the guys on the kill got the job done. They had an extended 5-on-3, which put us down and then we scored a power play goal. We won the special teams battle.”
The Pioneers continued to skate hard in the third with an aggressive forecheck, trying to funnel as many pucks on goal to tie the game.
With just over seven minutes left, Harris ripped his second of the night, top shelf, to even the game 2-2 heading into overtime.
ASU wins in electric fashion
Denver had climbed all the way back after being down by a couple of goals early.
The three-on-three overtime was electric, with each team exchanging chances with there being more room to work with on the ice to create scoring opportunities.
Smolen was involved offensively all night for ASU, and he did it again in overtime. Smolen found Potter on a crisp seam pass that allowed Potter to enter the Pioneers’ zone with space and snipe the game-winner.
It was Smolen’s third assist of the night, setting a career-high and his sixth game of his career with two or more assists.
Smolen was the first Sun Devil to have three or more assists in a game this year.
“I’ll play anywhere I need to play. I don’t view the lineup in the same way as some people do. I just enjoy playing hockey,” Smolen said. “I’ll play with anyone and try to make every line as good as I can. I think it’s my job as that older guy on that line to help kind of lift those guys, and they stepped up to the plate today.”
For Arizona State, it was a bounce-back performance, getting back into the win column. The Sun Devils handed Denver its first loss since Oct. 31, snapping a six-game winning streak.
“Really proud of our guys, the response was really good,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “Focusing on what part of the process we’re trying to put together worked and tonight was easily our best 60-minute effort of the season.”
Up next for the Sun Devils is a series against Ohio State (5-7) on Friday, Nov. 28. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. at Mullett Arena.
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