ASU hockey got back on track with a 4-0 shutout win on the road against the Princeton Tigers. In just ASU’s third full NCAA Division I season, the program achieved a major new milestone on Friday night.
The No. 19-ranked Sun Devils (11-6-0) have set a new single-season record in wins. Their victory over Princeton was fueled by veterans and a masterful performance from junior goaltender Joey Daccord.
“Dacs is tremendous,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “He’s the reason we won.”
Daccord continued his success as one of the nation’s top goaltenders with a dominant 45-save outing. The junior is now tied for the most shutouts in NCAA D-I with four on the year.
In addition, Daccord has started every game in goal for the Sun Devils this season meaning their 11th victory puts him currently atop of college hockey with the most wins.
His play thus far certainly has put him high on the watch list for the Mike Richter Award which goes to the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA D-I hockey.
Princeton (3-7-1) entered Friday night’s contest with one of the nation’s top-ranked power play units. The Tigers received four opportunities on the man-advantage, but ASU was able to kill them all off.
“Any time your goalie’s your best killer, you’re in good shape,” Powers said.
The Sun Devils found production from some of their go-to guys. Three of the team’s four goals came from upperclassmen.
Sophomore Johnny Walker, who brings a veteran presence, broke the ice just 15 seconds into the first period and it was all ASU needed. It was his 13th of the season to reclaim the top spot for most goals in the country.
Brett Gruber then tallied his fourth goal of the year by crashing the net and tipping in a pass from freshman Josh Maniscalco late in the opening frame to provide some cushion to ASU’s lead.
After a scoreless second period, co-captain Brinson Pasichnuk found the back of the net less than two minutes into the third. The junior sprawled out and tipped the puck past Princeton goaltender Ryan Ferland.
Freshman Jordan Sandhu was credited with his second assist of the game displaying his valuable production. He now leads ASU in assists this season with ten.
Finally, Phoenix-native Anthony Croston put the exclamation point on the win with an empty-net score.
“It was a nice, gritty, gutty road win, we’ll take it all day,” Powers said. “But we can be better, and that’s what’s exciting about tomorrow is I know we will be better. We’ll be a lot crisper, a lot sharper. We’ll manage the puck much better than we did tonight.”
The Sun Devils will go for the series sweep on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcasted on ESPN+.
All quotes in this article were obtained firsthand by Devils in Detail unless otherwise noted.