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ASU Hockey: Sun Devils travel to face Alabama-Huntsville

By Nicholas Frias

TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky performs on the field during the fourth quarter of the college football game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Sun Devil Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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After dropping both games against No. 1 Ohio State, the 2-2-0 ASU hockey team makes their first road trip of the season against Alabama-Huntsville.

After failing to win a game in their series against Ohio State, Sun Devil Hockey fell to 2-2-0 on the season. They make the season’s first road trip to play 0-4-0 Alabama-Huntsville this weekend, looking to get back to their winning ways.

The Arizona State Sun Devils played 120 minutes of almost perfect hockey, but they were unfortunately not able to come away with a victory in either game against the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes.

As they attempt to get back in the win column with games against Alabama-Huntsville, the improvements they need to make are necessary for the Devils gameplan.

One of the biggest improvements is their penalty issue. Despite holding the Buckeyes scoreless on the power play Saturday night, they gave up two of their three goals Friday night on the power play.

In a game the Sun Devils lost 3-2, those two power plays can be said to have made the difference. While they seemingly figured out their penalty kill issues, 19 penalties in four games is not a trend the team will want to keep up as the season progresses.

When it comes to their opponent, this will be a well-earned respite after a weekend against the nation’s top team.

The Chargers have scored a single goal to this point in their season, and it came five minutes into the first period of their season opener against the University of Miami-Ohio.

With Sun Devil goaltender Joey Daccord playing the level of hockey he has played thus far in the season, Alabama-Hunstville will likely have a tough time finding the net for the second time this season.

After opening the season with a 135 minute scoreless streak, Daccord allowed five goals on 64 shots against Ohio State. Daccord’s .952 save percentage is tied for the 13th-best in the country.

The Chargers goaltenders, on the other hand, have struggled to get in a groove. Sophomore Mark Sinclair has a .929 save percentage on 75 shots faced, but he has also allowed six goals in two games played.

Senior Jake Theut, on the other hand, allowed 10 goals in the two games he started, with his 74 saves giving him a .865 save percentage on the season.

For a Sun Devil team that got shut out the last time they took the ice, they’ll be licking their lips at the opportunity to play against either of these goalies over the weekend.

The Chargers have also struggled with penalties, finding themselves in the box 21 times in their first four games. Although the Sun Devils have not quite been efficient on the power play, they should have their fair share of chances to remedy that this weekend.

Next. ASU Hockey: Joey Daccord holding his own in net. dark

The Sun Devils should be able to pull off their second sweep of the season and improve to 4-2-0, but the Chargers will be putting up a fight in their home opening series, and as is always true in #CawlidgeHockey, anything can happen.