T.J. Semptimphelter defending the net in the matchup facing Northern Michigan. (Hana Kaufman / Inferno Intel)
No. 14 Arizona State (9-2-1) hosted its first Sunday matinee game of the season against Alaska Anchorage (5-8-1) at Mullet Arena. The unique 1 p.m. start ended in a rare result.
After winning six one-goal games this season, the Sun Devils controlled play from start to finish and defeated the Seawolves 3-0 to sweep the series.
It’s the Sun Devil’s first victory by more than one goal since the team’s 5-1 victory over Northern Michigan on Oct. 21. The game was also ASU’s first shutout since the season-opening 1-0 overtime win against Merrimack on Oct. 13.
“All the effort was there,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “I could honestly say Friday, I wasn’t happy, really happy with any player, not one. So, you know, it went from a game where I couldn’t really point to one player that had a good game. And I can’t point to one that didn’t have a good game today. And that was the result.”
Junior goaltender TJ Semptimphelter stopped all 19 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the season and the seventh of his career. He is now one shy of tying the program career shutout record, which is currently held by former goalie Joey Daccord (8).
The story of the game was the production from sophomore forward Ryan Alexander. He led ASU offensively with two points (one goal and one assist).
“It’s been a rough start to the year,” Alexander said. “But I tried to keep a positive mindset and just kind of tried to believe that I could do it.”
Alexander scored his first goal of the season to give ASU a 1-0 lead just over five minutes into the game. Senior defenseman Tim Lovell found Alexander alone at center ice and Alexander deked Seawolves freshman goaltender Greg Ososz on the breakaway.
“He (Alexander) is one of our best players,” Powers said.” What people I think maybe don’t know or forget is he had a pretty serious surgery in the offseason and it takes time to get your legs after what he had done to him. He didn’t have his legs underneath him until tonight. Finally, he’s back. Like he’s back. He popped that goal… he’s such a good hockey player for us.”
Alexander helped kill ASU’s lone penalty and made several plays that created quality scoring chances for linemates Charlie Schoen and Alex Young.
The Sun Devils carried a 1-0 lead into the second period and dominated the next frame. ASU outshot the Seawolves 23-8 after 40 minutes of play.
“I think we were kind of all on the same page tonight,” junior defenseman Cade Alami said. “In third, we had a little bit of a slump. But I thought overall, everyone was pretty dialed in from puck drop.”
ASU entered the game fourth in the nation in power-play goal percentage, sitting at 29.4%. The team’s hot special teams unit gave the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead with just over four minutes left in the second period.
Senior forward Matthew Kopperud fired a shot from above the right circle. Ososz made the initial save but he could not corral the rebound. Senior forward Dylan Jackson buried the puck into the empty net for his fifth goal of the season. The score continued ASU’s six-game power-play goal streak.
“That second period, it was maybe our best period of the year,” Powers said. “We were that good. That kid made five probably circus grade eight saves that were really impressive. And it was only the second start of his career. He was really good. He held them in it there.”
The top three lines for ASU continued to generate scoring chances through the first half of the final period, but Ososz kept his team in the game. He finished with 30 saves.
Trailing 2-0 with four minutes remaining, the Seawolves pulled its goalie. Graduate defenseman Brandon Tabakin received a pass from Alami deep in his own zone. Tabakin lifted the puck roughly 190 feet across the ice into the empty net to score his first goal of the season and give the Sun Devils a 3-0 lead. It was Alami’s first point of the season.
“I honestly didn’t even know what was going on until he scored,” Alami said. “I don’t even think he (Tabakin) did either. I think he ate a shot so he was kind of hurting before that. And then yeah, it just trickled in when we were going to the bench to change. So it was pretty awesome for me.”
The Sun Devils defense didn’t allow the Seawolves to generate many quality scoring chances. Alaska Anchorage finished with only 19 shots in the game.
“I think our d-core has everything you need,” Alami said. “We have size, grit. And then we have Timmy and Dowder who are obviously very offensive. And you know, everyone kind of mixes and matches.”
The Seawolves schedule doesn’t get easier. They will travel to Madison to play No. 1 Wisconsin (9-3-0) next weekend for a two-game series against the Badgers.
With the victory, ASU has won five of its last six games. The Sun Devils will carry its two-game win streak into its series against No. 5 Providence (8-3-2) next weekend. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. MST on Friday. The Friars were swept by Umass over the weekend and are expected to drop in the rankings.