TEMPE, Ariz. — North Dakota proved why it is ranked No. 4 in the country and a favorite to win an NCAA Division I National Championship this season with two statement victories in Tempe.

Game 1: Friday, Jan. 23

From the very opening puck drop, North Dakota flew past Arizona State to win Game 1 7-4 at Mullett Arena Friday, Jan. 23. The Fighting Hawks dominated the opening period and held off a valiant Sun Devil comeback. 

Only six minutes into the game, junior forward Anthony Menghini netted a rebound goal to open up the scoring for North Dakota. Not much later in the first period, senior transfer forward Ellis Rickwood tipped in a short-handed goal mere seconds into an ASU power play off of a beautiful feed from junior defenseman Abram Wiebe. 

In the second period, the Sun Devils tied it up with goals from senior defenseman Tucker Ness and a power play opportunity from freshman forward Carmelo Crandell. Now tied at 2-2, Mullett Arena erupted and had plenty of hope for a valiant comeback from the home team. 

Yet only 46 seconds later, North Dakota quickly silenced the crowd, taking the lead on a powerful one-timer from sophomore forward Cody Croal. The Sun Devil defense was caught off guard, rallying for the puck in the left corner, leaving senior goalie Connor Hasley and the opposing shooter in a one-on-one situation. 

Then, in the third period, the Fighting Hawks’ offense exploded, netting four goals. The first, a power-play goal by 17-year-old freshman Keaton Verhoeff, marked an offensive scheme that was clicking and gradually gave the Sun Devil faithful less hope. 

ASU quickly answered five minutes later when freshman defenseman Justin Kipkie rattled the net with his own power-play goal. The Sun Devils were in striking distance again, but when senior forward Dylan James saw an opening in front of the net, he took no hesitation, elevating the score 5-3. 

After the impressive goal from James, North Dakota poured it on and scored two more goals, including an empty-netter. Zellers finished with two goals and one assist, continuing his impressive season as the sixth leading scorer on the team. 

While ASU mounted an impressive comeback against the fourth-ranked team in the nation, the firepower of the Fighting Hawks proved too much. Hasley finished the night with six goals allowed and a .813 save percentage. 

The Sun Devils looked towards the second game of the series to find an answer and keep postseason hopes alive on home ice. 

Game 2: Saturday, Jan. 24

The Sun Devils entered the second game of the series riding a seven-game winning streak on Saturdays. After the first half of the game, it seemed as if this streak would extend to eight.

The Sun Devils flipped the script on the Fighting Hawks, scoring the first two goals in the first period, as North Dakota had done the prior night.

Sophomore defenseman Brasen Boser potted his first of the season at the 7:21 mark of the first period— defense scoring has been a rarity for ASU this season.

Just about two minutes later, freshman winger Sam Alfano smashed one home on the power play on a one-timer.

It seemed as if there was a player in the penalty box almost the entire game, with the Sun Devils taking eight on Saturday. They surrendered two goals on the penalty kill.

ASU head coach Greg Powers turned to freshman netminder Samuel Urban, who posted a shutout against Miami in his last start. 

After North Dakota cut the lead to 2-1 shortly following the Alfano goal, sophomore winger Logan Morrell gave the Sun Devils their second power play goal of the game, extending the lead to 3-1.

However, ASU mustered only those three goals, leading to the Fighting Hawks scoring four unanswered goals to win 5-3. 

North Dakota (20-6-0, 12-4-0 NCHC) also secured the season series over Arizona State (12-13-1, 5-8-1) on Saturday evening.