The Miami-Ohio Redhawks won their first conference game for the first time in 42 games Saturday, defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils 5-2 after losing 4-1 the previous night.
After having eight power plays last night, the Sun Devils had averaged over six power plays per game in their first seven. They drew five more Saturday, including a five-minute major, but could only muster one power play goal.
Redhawks freshman forward Ilia Morozov was handed a major and game misconduct in the first period following a crosscheck, but ASU was unable to capitalize.
Despite the five minutes on the man advantage and the four other power plays, the Sun Devils put 24 shots on net.
Miami (7-1, 1-1 NCHC), which didn’t win a single game in conference play in regulation last season, won its first since March 2024.
The sluggish start to the season continued for ASU, dropping to 3-5 (1-1 NCHC) on the young season.
The second period defined this game when the Redhawks notched three unanswered goals after freshman forward Ben Kevan took a brief lead for the Sun Devils on the power play.
Former Redhawk and current ASU senior Johnny Waldron tallied three assists this weekend against his former team.
Head coach Greg Powers and the Sun Devils typically do a great job playing in the transition and capitalizing on opponent turnovers. Still, despite a victory on Friday, the offense was stagnant.
It is important to note the youth of this ASU team, headlined by one of the youngest defenses you will ever see: Brasen Boser as the only junior… no seniors.
Freshman forward Jack Beck, brother of last year’s leading defense scorer for ASU, Noah Beck, scored a goal last night but was held scoreless Saturday.
The number of penalties in this series may not be fully blamed on undisciplined play, as it seemed both head coaches were unhappy numerous times with some calls that maybe some other officials would let slide.
Nevertheless, that is something that is inevitably going to happen to a young team.
Pittsburgh Penguins product and senior winger Cruz Lucius continues to light the lamp for the Sun Devils, tallying his seventh goal (10th point) in eight games, and is tied with senior forward Bennett Schimek for the team lead in points.
The gauntlet of a schedule for ASU begins next weekend in Tempe as it takes on No. 15 Colorado College in a series beginning Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. MST.
Matchups against currently ranked teams will be the story for the Sun Devils for their next five series (10 games): Colorado College, No. 8 North Dakota, No. 6 Denver, No. 17 Ohio State and No. 10 Minnesota Duluth.