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ASU Hockey: Sun Devils head to New York to face Cornell

By Nicholas Frias

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot "Sparky the Sun Devil " performs during the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Arizona State Sun Devils mascot "Sparky the Sun Devil " performs during the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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After a weekend sweep of Boston College, ASU hockey heads back to the northeast to face No. 17 Cornell looking to bolster their tournament resume.

After starting off 2019 with a sweep of Boston College, No. 13 Sun Devil hockey remains in prime position to be heading to the Division I tournament. Standing in their way this week is No. 17 Cornell.

The Big Red rebounded from suffering an opening weekend sweep against Michigan State by winning four straight games and seven out of eleven.

Forwards Morgan Barron and Mitch Vanderlaan leads the team in points with 11 in their 13 games, and their playmaking ability will be a huge factor in this series as Cornell will look to get pucks past Sun Devil goaltender Joey Daccord.

Cornell has four players drafted by NHL teams on their roster, including the Islanders’ Misha Song, the first China-born NHL draft pick. Sophomore defensemen Alex Green and Matt Cairns have also been selected by NHL teams at the Entry Draft, along with Barron.

In net for the home team will either be sophomore Matthew Galajda, who has posted a 5-4-0 record with a 2.59 goals allowed average and .885 save percentage, or sophomore Austin McGrath (2-1-1, 2.03 GAA, .926 SV%).

Despite both goaltenders having decent stats, Cornell has allowed opponents to score at least one goal in every non-exhibition game this season. If Johnny Walker can add to his NCAA-leading goal total early on, this Sun Devil offense has the ability to pile on the goals.

In addition to Walker’s 26-point season thus far, there are five freshmen wearing the pitchfork on their jerseys who have totaled double-digit points this season.

If Jarrod Gourley can add four more points during these final 10 games, six Sun Devil freshmen will finish the season with double-digit points.

While the offense has been firing on all cylinders and the defense has been doing its part, what Joey Daccord has done in net this year cannot be ignored.

Having started all 24 games for Arizona State, his 16 wins are the most in the NCAA. His 2.08 GAA is 14th-best among D-I goalies and his .933 SV% is only lower than three other netminders. Additionally, Daccord’s six shutouts lead all NCAA D-I goaltenders.

Next. ASU Hockey: Veteran leadership key to Devils’ success. dark

With little wiggle room when it comes to tournament hopes, the Sun Devils need a big series from Daccord and Co. against a formidable ranked opponent this weekend.