TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State got five power play goals to beat the Omaha hockey team 7-2 and earn the series sweep on Saturday at Oceanside Ice Arena.
The Mavericks dipped to 0-5-1 on the season. The Sun Devils improved to 6-2-0, the best start in their short history. The beat the Mavericks 6-3 on Friday night.
ASU's Johnny Walker scored four of the power play goals, including both in the third period, to help the Sun Devils to their fourth straight win. Demitrios Koumontzis assisted on all four.
Arizona State held off an early push by the Mavericks and forged ahead with power play goals from Walker (5:42) and PJ Marrocco (11:35).
Dylan Hollman added an even-strength marker at 14:16 to put the Sun Devils up 3-0 after one.
ASU added the second power play goal from Walker at 6:14 of the second. The goal was salt in the wound for the Mavericks who watched
Tristan Keck hit a post on a penalty shot just 1:16 into the period.
UNO finally got on the board at 7:24 when
Taylor Ward converted a pass from
Teemu Pulkkinen off the rush for his first collegiate goal.
John Schuldt also picked up an assist for his first collegiate point.
ASU countered at 18:27 when Dominic Garcia roofed a backhander to make it 5-1.
The Mavericks responded 17 seconds later off another rush when
Mason Morelli buried a pass from
Fredrik Olofsson for his third goal of the season.
Evan Weninger made 40 saves and allowed seven goals in just over 45 minutes of work.
Matej Tomek worked in relief, stopping all six shots he faced as the Mavericks were outshot, 53-32.
The Mavericks open their NCHC schedule next week, hosting Miami on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3. Both games start at 7:07 p.m.
NOTES:
- Arizona State had 10 power plays in the game while the Mavericks had just two.
- The Mavericks tied the worst start in program history with the loss. The 2003-04 team also started 0-5-1.
- The last time an opponent scored five power play goals against the Mavericks was March 9, 2013 against Minnesota Duluth.
- Keck's penalty shot in the second period was the second of the weekend. ASU's Anthony Croston scored on a penalty shot on Friday.
Three Stars: 1. Johnny Walker/ASU – Four goals; 2. Demitrios Koumontzis/ASU – Four assists; 3. Tyler Bush/ASU – Three assists