ASU Hockey: Sun Devils journey to Ann Arbor for Michigan series

ASU hockey travels to Ann Arbor to face the 13th-ranked Michigan Wolverines for a two-game series beginning Friday to conclude the 2017-18 season.

After splitting last weekend’s series with Michigan Tech, the Arizona State Sun Devils (8-19-5) have travelled to Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor to battle No. 13 Michigan for the final series of the season.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere for us to go into one of the best venues in college hockey and play against a really talented team,” ASU head coach Greg Powers said.

The Wolverines (16-13-3) are coming off of last weekend’s sweep of then No. 1 Notre Dame. Despite the statement victories and a rise in the rankings, Michigan is still on the brink of not making the NCAA tournament.

“They’re playing their best hockey of the year right now. They’re looking to solidify their ticket to the NCAA tournament, so we’re going to have our work cut out for us,” Powers said.

Powers has continued to preach to his team how many excellent opportunities they have. Stealing a win this weekend could potentially knock Michigan out of a tournament seed.

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“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity this weekend because it seems like everybody is counting us out,” ASU captain Dylan Hollman said.

ASU’s leading goal-scorer, freshman Johnny Walker, isn’t fazed by Michigan’s momentum and recent success. He doesn’t think that this type of momentum carries over from weekend to weekend.

“I just think that if we go and play our game, good things usually happen,” he said. “If we stay out of penalty trouble and play 5-on-5, we’re as good as any team in the country.”

However, the Sun Devils will be playing without junior forward Anthony Croston, who was suspended after last week’s post game altercation between Michigan Tech and ASU. Croston has been a key role-player for ASU and contributed with 15 points this season.

“He’s a go-to guy, so we’re going to miss Anthony,” Powers said. “These guys are resilient. Somebody will step up and I don’t have a doubt about that.”

Hollman isn’t bothered by the outcome of postgame scrum either.

“Anytime a situation like that happens it kind of brings the team closer together,” he said.

Additionally, the Sun Devils could be without starting goaltender Joey Daccord. The sophomore was limited in practice this week due to a lower body injury.

“I’m only going to allow him to play if he’s more than 100 percent [healthy],” Powers said.

Daccord has been a key player for the Sun Devils all season long. He has faced more shots, and consequently made more saves, than any other goaltender in Division I. He also ranks 30th in the country with a save percentage of .910.

However, despite so much adversity, the Sun Devils are ready to step into the spotlight against the powerful Wolverines.

“It’ll be our last trip together so I’m looking forward to enjoying the time we have left and maybe stealing one or two games this weekend,” Walker said.

Next: ASU Hockey: Sun Devils overpowered by Huskies in penalty-filled fight

“We just want to go and play really well and give ourselves a chance to win each night. If we do that, I think we can call it a successful trip,” Powers added. “If we don’t go there and get a win, it’s not a failure by any means, but certainly we could use it as a launching pad.”

All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.