Panic time for Arizona State hockey? Or setting up for another late season surge?

Opening the 2024-25 season, the Sun Devils scuffled to a 1-5-1 record through their first six games, the only win coming in an 8-1 final in the opener at Air Force. While technically improved at 2-4-0 at the same point this year, the advertised strength and depth of this team has only showed on paper rather than on the ice.

Last season's team had the benefit of the doubt with a number of injuries keeping key players off the ice, plus the looming NCHC schedule for their debut season. With that first season hurdle done and behind them, this team shaped up to be on the path to their second ever NCAA tournament appearance.

While championships are not won in October and the newly implemented NPI rankings do not currently favor the Sun Devils, getting thoroughly outplayed this past weekend on the road at Augustana raises the level of concern among the Mullett Maniacs.

I would be remiss if I did not commend the emergence of Cruz Lucius. In the early going, the senior has put last season's struggles behind him and jumped out to a 6 G-1 A-7 P line after scoring both goals in Saturday's 5-2 loss. The offense as a whole has shown signs of what they are capable of, with Bennett Schimek, Logan Morrell, Sean McGurn, Kyle Smolen, Anthony Dowd, and Sam Alfano all registering at least 4 points.

What should be concerning to Sun Devil fans is the inability to "put it all together" on a nightly basis. Take Friday night for example. Arizona State jumped out to a 2-0 lead just 8:10 in to the game on goals from Alfano and Schimek, but disappeared for the other nearly 52 minutes the rest of the night. Leonid Bulgakov's goal late in the 1st period to put Augustana on the board was the turning point of the game, and something the offense never recovered from.

The inability to convert on special teams ties directly in to the offensive struggles. The Sun Devils converted just one of 10 power play chances on the weekend, dropping the team to a 19.4% success rate. Adding insult to injury, the Devils have allowed an NCAA-worst three shorthanded goals, accomplishing the opposite of what they aim for on the power play.

Connor Hasley and Samuel Urban came in to the season as a formidable goaltending duo, but like the rest of the team have underperformed to their potential. A 4.07 goals against average and .897 save percentage rank in the lower third of the NCAA in both categories. Some of the struggles stem from the inefficient defensive play in front of them, and the hope is that a much needed early week off will give both goalies a chance to get their reps in and get back on their game.

Arizona State will return to action next weekend at undefeated Miami (OH) to open NCHC play before returning to Mullett Arena on November 7-8 to host Colorado College.