ACHA D I Hockey: ASU comes back but falls short to Utah in OT
ASU forward Matthew Gross delivers a check in the second period. Gross had a highlight reel assist on Caleb Butler’s second period goal.
The Arizona State Sun Devils (6-2-1-0) rallied from a one-goal deficit three times to force overtime but fell short against the University of Utah (5-5-0-1) by a score of 4-3 at Mountain America Community Iceplex.
“We never gave up and we believe in each other,” Sun Devils forward Ryan Robinson said. “It doesn't matter if we’re up or down in the first period or last period. The message is always to keep coming in waves. Keep moving our feet and play the way we're supposed to play.”
After a lackluster performance in game one, ASU delivered a better effort on Friday.The Sun Devils started fast and had a 5-1 shot advantage in the first four minutes.
“Systematically, we were closer to how we wanted to play,” Robinson said. “But still not near as well as we needed to. I felt like we were the better team and deserve to win tonight, but sometimes you don't get the bounces and that's just how it goes.”
Utes struck first when forward Erik Gibboney received a pass from forward Jules Donovan off an odd-man rush and scored seven minutes into the game.
Sun Devils forward Ryan Robinson tied the game 1-1 from just above the goal line with four minutes left in the period. Somehow the puck found space between Utah goalie Joseph Greilich's pads on the short side.
“It was a quick shot into traffic,” Robinson said. “I was coming across the crease, bounced the puck off the wall and tried to stuff it in. It all started from hard work in the offensive zone, moving it low to high, and throwing pucks at the net.”
Utah regained the lead halfway through the second period. ASU failed to break out of its own zone and Utes forward Jacob Slater scored off of the turnover.
Two minutes later, ASU tied the game 2-2 with a highlight-reel goal from forward Caleb Butler and an incredible assist from forward Matthew Gross. From behind the net, Gross batted the floating puck towards the crease, and Butler smacked it mid-air into the net.
“It was a two-on-one,” Butler said. “Gross came down the ice. It was a good play for him. I think he just kind of flipped it over and I batted it in. I thought it was a high stick at first, but it was a good goal.”
The score was an impressive display of hand-eye coordination and the lacrosse-style play was easily an ACHA goal of the year nominee.
Forward Ethan Light scored his second goal of the series on the power play to give Utah a 3-2 lead with 2 minutes left in the second period.
“We had four different goal scorers tonight,” Utah assistant coach Alex King said. “That definitely helps. We played as a whole team. That kept us locked in. Whenever any of the guys made mistakes, someone bailed them out.”
Midway through the third period, Butler scored his second goal of the night to tie the game 3-3. Sun Devils forward Conner Tilmon dropped the puck to Butler from the top of the right circle and Butler’s wrist shot beat Greilich glove side.
“I thought we played a lot better,” Butler said. “All three periods. We controlled most of the game but I don't know. I guess they just capitalized on our mistakes and we couldn't get the win.”
Forward Ben Chase almost gave ASU the lead with one minute remaining on a one-timer attempt from his knees, but the shot hit the outside of the post. The opportunity was one of the many scoring chances generated by the Sun Devils third line of Chase, Trevor Kennedy and Jonathan Murphy.
Utah forward Landon Langenbrunner scored on an odd-man rush three minutes into the three-on-three overtime period to hand the Sun Devils its first consecutive loss of the season.
Chase, son of former NHL player Kelly Chase, could not catch up to Langenbrunner, the son of NHL player Jamie Langenbrunner, on the backcheck.
“We just played 11 road games in a row,” King said. “Over the course of five weeks, we've been traveling every single weekend. It's been tough. If you can go .500 on the road that’s good. We did that over the course of five weeks. And now we have a week break to recoup, rest and get ready for a long homestand.”
In contrast to the penalty filled game one, the play had a greater tempo and flow. ASU’s fast start dictated the intense pace and played more desperately.
Utah matched the intensity and responded to every Sun Devils goal. The game was a physical affair and both teams relished every opportunity to finish a check.
ASU will host Colorado State (7-3-2-0) Friday at MACU Iceplex at 9 p.m. MST. The Utes will host Colorado (8-4-0-0) on Friday Nov. 10 at Salt Lake City Sports Complex at 7:30 p.m. MST.