Despite being outshot 38-23 by the end of the matchup, the RedHawks were able to soar past the Sun Devils in overtime after Miami freshman right wing David Deputy called the game only one minute and seven seconds into overtime.

Although ASU seemed to be setting the tone in the first period, going into the locker room after the opening frame, holding the RedHawks to just four shots, the Sun Devils’ offense would struggle getting past sophomore goaltender Matteo Drobac.

“We had our chances,” head coach Greg Powers said. “We feel like we controlled the game, possessions, chances, everything, it just wasn’t going our way offensively, and their goalie played really well.”

Drobac seemed to be the Achilles heel for this Sun Devil squad, as he stopped 10 or more shots in each period played in regulation; 14 in the first, 10 in the second and 13 in the third.

Even when faced with ASU’s leading point scorer, senior left wing Cruz Lucius, on two breakaway attempts, Drobac stood on his head in the crease, ending the night with a .973 save percentage.

Although the Sun Devil offense was not as hot as it has been recently, Powers cited Drobac as a prime reason this matchup was low-scoring.

“It felt like one of those games where we might not get one,” Powers said. “Their goalie was sharp, he was competing, he was square. He was really good, and our guys didn’t have the juice we’ve had to put goals in the net.”

ASU’s offensive woes were not only a struggle at even strength but also on the power play, as it converted zero of its five power play chances.

“This is one of those games where we just couldn’t find a way to execute on offense, and the powerplay really struggled,” Powers said. “They were just sloppy, and they let one bad rep become five, and you can’t do that. You gotta be mentally tougher than that.”

Even through the offensive struggles, the Sun Devil defense was able to shine, as ASU’s lone goal came off a slapshot from sophomore defenseman Sam Court, with only three minutes left in regulation, forcing an overtime period. 

This goal also marked Court’s first goal of the season.

“In the moment, it was awesome for him,” sophomore defenseman Brasen Boser said. “He’s kind of been up-and-down this year, and I think the last couple of games he’s really been finding his game again.”

While Court’s third-period heroics were a standout moment for the defense, Boser thought they played an overall good defensive game.

“I don’t think we gave up that many good chances,” Boser said. “We had good gaps throughout the whole ice and defended very well. It was a very good defensive game, I think.”

Powers also had nothing but praise for the Sun Devil defense.

“Our d-core was really good,” Powers said. “They managed pucks for us. I was proud of our guys for tying it up and finding a way to tie it up.”

An emphasis on tonight's loss was not only on the offense but also on the absence of ASU’s top line, consisting of Lucius, sophomore center Cullen Potter, and senior right wing Bennett Schimek, all of whom went pointless in this matchup.

The top line alone has scored 88 points this season and is the top line in the nation, with Lucius and Schimek holding the first and second spots in points in the NCAA, with Potter tied for 12th.

“I think our top line was a little off tonight,” Powers said. “They just didn’t execute at the level that we’ve seen from them in the past month, and that's gonna happen.”

Boser thinks that relying on the whole team is the key to their offensive success moving forward.

“We gotta rely on the rest of our team,” Boser said. “They are high point scorers, but you can’t win in college hockey if you have one line.”

Powers also emphasised the importance of other forwards stepping up in their place when the offense is not executing how they want it to.

“They’re not going to be perfect,” Powers said. “They are not going to be the best line in the country every night; it’s impossible to ask that of them, but when they’re not, other guys have to step up and we didn’t have any other forwards step up.”

While the Sun Devils were able to sneak away with a point to add to their standings with the overtime loss, ending in regulation is the goal for their next outing against Miami Saturday night.

“We got a point tonight, and that’s the way we got to look at it, and we’ve got to come back tomorrow and hopefully get three,” Powers said.