ASU Hockey: Colgate Series Wrap-Up and Notes

Arizona State Hockey: Weekend Wrap-Up and Notes for Colgate Series

The Arizona State Sun Devils looked like completely different teams in the first and second games of the series with the Colgate Raiders.

In the first game, ASU was not only successful in killing the Colgate power play, but they took advantage of their own power play. The second game saw a different outcome, with ASU unable to capture a power play goal, while allowing two shorthanded goals that would in the end be the difference.

While 27 shots is the second-least amount of shots they have allowed in any game this season, the 15 shots taken by the Devils is the worst they have done all season. The next worst game is November 19th against Penn State. Before that, the season opener on October 7th against Notre Dame.

Pashovitz looked sharp all weekend, as he started both games for ASU, the first time he has done that this season. His .885 save percentage in the series is a couple ticks better than his season average of .882.

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Both games were decided by one goal and both games saw the winning team score two power play goals. The Sun Devils are 2-2 in one-goal games and predictably 0-7 when the opposing team scores two or more power play goals. The team is 4-2 when scoring a power play goal.

In the end, special teams once again hurt Arizona State, which has been the story of the season through the first 17 games. This is a sign of a lack of discipline for a Sun Devil squad that has actually looked fairly disciplined in their previous seven games coming into the series.

Even discounting the 15 penalty minutes handed to Edward McGovern after the conclusion of the second game, the Saturday loss was the only the second time in the last nine games that ASU spent more than 8 minutes in the penalty box, with the other occasion being the November 19th 8-0 loss to Penn State.

While special teams cost ASU the series sweep, there were positives from the weekend that should not go unnoticed. Robbie Baillargeon’s Friday night goal extended his team lead to eight goals. Not only that, but his three assists from the weekend gave him a team-leading seven, where he is tied with David Norris.

Anthony Croston and Louie Rowe both scored their first goals of the season, with Rowe scoring two in the Friday game, the first two of his career. To top it all off, that first goal from Rowe occurred while ASU was shorthanded, the first time that has happened for the team this year.

Next: ASU Hockey: Sun Devils Split Series With Raiders

The Sun Devils have over a week off, with their next game coming on the road against American International Yellow Jackets (3-6-6) in Springfield, Massachusetts on Tuesday, December 13th. From there, Arizona State will travel to University of Massachusetts at Amherst to face the Massachusetts Minutemen (4-8-2) for a weekend set.

They’ll then come back “home” to host the Desert Hockey Classic in Prescott Valley at the Prescott Valley Event Center. The tournament will also feature Brown (2-8-0), No.17 St. Cloud State (7-6-1) and Connecticut (5-6-6). The next game at Oceanside Ice Arena for ASU will take place on Friday, January 20th against Southern New Hampshire.