(Fairbanks, AK) The Sun Devils proved it is rally cap season as No. 18 Sun Devil Hockey pulled off an overtime 4-3 victory over Alaska Fairbanks after chasing a two-goal deficit for half of the game. Senior center Ty Jackson netted the game-winner just 54 seconds into extra time with assists from Hobey Baker nominees Lukas Sillingerand Tim Lovell.
Like they have all season, the Arizona State (21-7-6) bench continued to play with a resiliency that ultimately wore down Alaska’s (14-14-2) lead. Ty Jackson was joined by ASU goal scorers Charlie Schoen (2G) and Jackson Niedermayer (1 PPG). Gibson Homermade his fifth consecutive start and tallied 28 saves.
The win tied ASU’s second-most wins in a single season in program history from the 2018-19 season.
Most Wins in a Sun Devil Hockey Season
22 – 2019-20 season
21 – 2023-24 season
21 – 2018-19 season (first NCAA tournament berth in program history)
After last night’s theatrics, the sin bin stayed fairly occupied in the second matchup between the two independent teams. The game saw 12 penalties between both squads – five for ASU and seven for UAF – including 29 penalty minutes. Both teams capitalized on one power play opportunity. Matthew Kopperud was ejected from the game with a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head, leaving an already short Sun Devil bench in even more dire conditions.
ASU competed with only four true defensemen on Saturday night and forward Jackson Niedermayer filled in as the fifth defenseman. The Sun Devils were left short as three d-men including Tucker Ness, Ethan Szmagaj, and Ty Murchison each took suspensions subsequent to fighting penalties at the end of Friday night’s game. According to NCAA rules, a fighting penalty is an automatic one-game suspension for the next game played.
“I’m really proud of our guys. We battled through a really gritty, gutty win. Faced a lot of adversity thrown our way with a really short bench,” said head coach Greg Powers. “Down 3-1, Kopperud out, three defensemen out, they found a way. It’s a really tough place to play, but it feels good to win the series against these guys, 3-1 on the year, and unfortunately yesterday got away, but we bounced back,” continued Powers.
ASU is now 6-2-6 in overtime games and pushes its record in the month of February to 4-1-1.
The Sun Devils return to the desert for the final home series of the 2023-24 season against Long Island. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. MST on Friday and 5 p.m. MST on Saturday. Arrive early on Saturday night to watch the on-ice pregame Senior Day ceremony.
GAME BREAKDOWN
First Period
Charlie Schoen netted his first two-goal night of his collegiate career. Both goals were scored in the second period on even strength. Jackson Niedermayer came up big on the power play to score the game-tying goal in the early minutes of the third period.
Officials would have none of last night’s shenanigans and when ASU’s Charlie Schoen was assessed a two-minute tripping call, the officials tacked on a 10-minute penalty for persisting in misconduct. UAF scored on the power play to take the 1-0 lead at 3:24 into the opening frame. ASU finished the period with three penalties to UAF’s one while the Nanooks dominated the shot chart, 14-7.
Second Period
ASU came out hot to start the second period, scoring just 80 seconds into play. Ty Jacksonwon a faceoff in the offensive zone that Lukas Sillinger picked up. Sillinger passed to Tabakin at the blue line who sent the shot on net for the tipped in goal by Charlie Schoen. Six minutes later, Alaska answered back with two goals within three minutes of each other.
A second goal from Charlie Schoen at the 10-minute mark in the second period kept the Sun Devils within one. He battled to stall the Nanooks breakout to keep the puck in the UAF offensive zone. Sillinger snatched the puck amongst the confusion, allowing Schoen to skate down the slot, open for the pass. Schoen deeked two UAF defensemen and threw a backhanded shot through the Nanooks goaltender’s five hole.
Matthew Kopperud left the game after officials gave him a five-minute major and a game misconduct for contact to the head at 11:37 in the middle frame. One minute into the ASU kill, a Nanook skater tallied a tripping call, putting the game to four-on-four. When all was said and done, the Sun Devils only had 90 seconds to kill of five-on-four play. ASU closed the shots on goal gap, putting up nine to UAF’s 11 in the second period.
Third Period
Once again, ASU flew out the gates of the period as Jackson Niedermayer scored a power play goal three minutes into the final frame. He was assisted by Lukas Sillinger and Brian Chambers. With ASU short three defensemen (Tucker Ness, Ty Murchison, and Ethan Szmagaj) due to last night’s fighting penalties, Niedermayer moved from his usual winger position to play as ASU’s fifth defenseman.
The game remained knotted at three goals apiece as time whittled down in regulation. Gibson Homer came up big with several saves in a scrum to protect the tie.
Overtime
It only took 54 seconds into overtime for the Sun Devils to capture the game-winning goal. Ty Jackson snuck behind enemy lines for a one-on-one chance against the Nanook netminder. Jackson scored with assists from Lukas Sillinger and Tim Lovell for ASU’s 21st win of the season.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Paige Shacklett
Click on Logo
