Sun Devils complete comeback against Crusaders

TEMPE, Ariz. – Friday night saw Arizona State allow a late comeback by Holy Cross, scoring a pair of goals in the last two minutes, taking the lead and winning the game. Almost 24 hours later, that was almost the same story.

Entering the final period of the game, the Sun Devils were down 3-1, with the opportunity to flip the script on the Crusaders. Acting head coach Mike Corbett rallied his players by challenging them.

The Sun Devils battled back, rallying three goals in 6:22, giving them the lead. Moments later, the Crusaders pulled their goalie as former Sun Devil David Hymovitch scored his second goal of the game, as many as he did at Arizona State. 

Sophomore forward Jack Beck scored the game-winning overtime goal, giving Arizona State hockey (2-2) the 4-3 win over Holy Cross (2-2). That was Beck’s first goal of the season.

“We were playing bad,” Corbett said. “They want to be coached hard, so I went in there and challenged them and said, ‘I wanted to see what they are made of.’”

The team responded well to the message, scoring three goals in the period.

Freshman forward Nathan Behm had the power play goal that sparked the offense. Up until then, Arizona State was 0-9 on power plays since the end of opening night. The Sun Devils were 0-3 on the night.

“They were anticipating what we’re doing, and they were trying to take away 18, Muthersbaugh,” Corbett said. “They know that he’s got the big shots, so they’re flexing out a little bit quicker.

Junior forward Ben Muthersbaugh converted on the next power play opportunity the Sun Devils had. Both of his goals have come on the power play this season.

The changes they made on the power play were bumper players down by the goal line, allowing more releases through the middle. It allowed them to play faster and crisper. 

Throughout the game, Corbett shook up the lines to generate more offense as the team played with 13 forwards, giving them flexibility to shake up the lines.

“Sometimes just sitting a shift is enough of a challenge for these kids,” Corbett said. “I love that they took it as a challenge.”

Behm currently leads all freshmen in goals scored this season at three. Behm is tied for the team lead in goals scored.

After not playing in Friday night's game, sophomore forward Olivier Houde scored a goal and an assist. Houde sat last night due to a coach's decision by Corbett. That was his second goal in Sun Devil colors.

Senior forward Kyle Smolen notched his third goal of the season. Smolen is tied for the team lead in goals this season.

Freshman defenseman Jonas Woo notched a pair of assists. Junior Rylan Brown notched a pair of assists as well.

Beck, Woo, sophomore forward Daniel Shlaine and freshman forward Landon Hafele all scored in the game, and they all lead the team in points at four.

“I let the boys down, hitting the post late (on an empty-net shot when the score was 3-2 Arizona State),” Beck said. “I kind of wanted to redeem myself there, and it was nice to get the win. 

11 different players scored points in the game, which is the third time that the Sun Devils have reached double digits this season. 

Corbett shook up the lineup after sitting sophomore forward Ben Kevan and Houde last night for freshmen forwards Teddy Merrill and Michael Barron. 

Arizona State started sophomore goalie Sam Hillebrandt for the first time. He struggled, allowing four goals on a .765 save percentage. All Holy Cross goals came in the last five minutes of each period, including one in the final second of the first period. 

“Guys tend to relax (in the final minutes of periods),” Corbett said. “They don’t think things matter as much, and they just relax for that second, and you can’t.”

The Sun Devils outshot Holy Cross 35-17. Arizona State has yet to be outshot in a game this season.

The Sun Devils penalty kill stopped the Crusaders' lone power play. Opponents are 0-14 against the Arizona State kill this season.

Arizona State currently sits 34th in the NPI. Arizona State is now 5-10-1 in early-season nonconference games in the past three seasons, since it joined the NCHC.

The Sun Devils are without head coach Greg Powers, who was placed on leave after sophomore defenseman Matthew Mayich collapsed and is in the hospital after an August 20th. 

“We kind of caught them sleeping a little bit in the third,” Beck said. “Like Kyle (Smolen) said (Friday night), we are playing for something bigger. Everything’s for Matthew (Mayich), and there’s people going through a lot harder things in the world, so giving your all for 20 minutes isn’t that hard.”