Streaky Urban allows 7 goals in shootout against Lindenwood
Sophomore goaltender Samuel Urban was streaky at times in his freshman season. He allowed multiple goals in a span of a few minutes at times in games last season. At times, Urban would have streaks of games when he would average under two goals a game and others north of four.
After shutting out Lindenwood Friday night, Urban’s consistency could have shown if he locked down the Lions once again, but the inconsistencies of his freshman season showed their head again. The inconsistency of him allowing goals in short time spans.
Urban had two stretches where he allowed multiple goals in a short time, which derailed the game. Those two defined the game as Arizona State (1-1) lost 9-6 (EN), splitting the opening weekend series against Lindenwood.
The first came early for Urban as he allowed his first goal two minutes and 11 seconds into the game. Two minutes and 38 seconds later, the Lions were up 3-0. Urban did not stop a shot within that stretch.
Urban’s second rough stretch came late in the second period. He allowed four goals in five minutes and 39 seconds after shutting down the Lions for 29 minutes and change. In this stretch, he saved a third of his shots.
This stretch came after the Sun Devils had three penalty kills in an 8:22 time span. The penalty kill was excellent, not allowing a goal on five opportunities. The Lions logged two shots on goal in power plays. Lindenwood went 0-for-10 on its power play on the weekend.
For the rest of the game, Urban locked down the Lions' offense. Lindenwood scored a pair of empty-net goals in 15 seconds, making the score look wider than what the game showed.
The rarely-used senior goaltender Chase Hamm was listed as injured on the line chart. Sophomore Sam Hillebrandt did not see any action in net all weekend as the coaching staff, led by assistant coach Mike Corbett (head coach Greg Powers is on paid leave), opted not to pull Urban after his rough stretches in favor of the Ohio State transfer.
The offense showed promise with young players getting in on the action. They logged 10 more shots on goal than Lindenwood.
Freshman defenseman Jonas Woo scored his first goal and added an assist. Freshman forward Landon Hafele added a pair of assists, bringing his season total up to three.
Sophomore defenseman Lincoln Kuehne had an assist. It was his third point in five games going back to last season. Woo, Hafele and Kuehne were all selected in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Freshman forward Nathan Behm scored his first two goals and points. Sophomore forward Ben Kevan scored his first goal and his second point of the season. Kevan had an underwhelming freshman season with only four goals and 10 points. Both players were 2025 NHL Entry Draft selections.
Junior Jack O’Brien scored his first point. He scored 51 points in 62 games in the ECHL last season. This is his first NCAA season.
Sophomore forward Daniel Shlaine added his second point of the season. The Minnesota-Duluth transfer is the younger brother of former Sun Devil Artem Shlaine, who scored 38 points in his lone season in Tempe.
Sophomore forward Jack Beck scored his second point of the season. Beck scored five goals and three assists in his injury-shortened freshman season last year.
Senior forward Kyle Smolen scored his second goal of the season. He is coming off a year where his point total was down five points and five assists compared to his previous year.
At least one goal came from all four lines. Only junior defenseman Hunter Hady and sophomore defenseman Richard Baran are pointless among those who played in both games.
The Sun Devils went 0-2 on power plays after going 2-5 on Friday.
In the NCHC era, Arizona State is 4-9-1 in the first three weekends before conference play begins. Arizona State hosts Holy Cross next weekend before going to UMass-Lowell to round out early-season non-conference play.
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