Hockey upsets no. 1/1 Denver in 3-2 win

On By Littum

DENVER, Colo. – Sun Devil Hockey gave the unanimous no. 1/1 Denver (12-1-0, 2-1-0) lost its first in 21 straight games with a 3-2 victory Friday night at Magness Arena. Arizona State’s (5-7-1, 2-3-0) win is the highest-ranked in program history and was propelled by Artem Shlaines two-goal evening and Luke Pavicich’s 30-par performance between the pipes.

Shlaine scored the game-winning go-ahead with just 45 seconds left in regulation after he also tallied the opening goal just 35 seconds into the first period.

Pavicich made his fourth straight start for the Sun Devils and made 30 cool saves to protect ASU’s lead for 23 minutes between the second and third periods.

ASU’s win over Denver is the first in the Mile High City in program history.

GAME NOTES

  • Artem Shlain scored the opening goal against DU. It is the second game in a row that Shlaine has scored

  • The third line of Kyle Smolen, Ryan Alexanderand Shlaine is responsible for three of ASU’s last five goals

  • Bennett Schimek scored his sixth goal of the season

  • Before tonight’s game was Denver 63-10-4 in his last 77 contests at Magness Arena and had a 70-14-5 record on the DU mound since the start of the 2019-20 campaign.

  • Shlaine’s second goal was his fourth career game-winning goal

  • The victory is the head coach Greg Powers‘ 300th career win (ACHA and NCAA combined)

  • Shlaine was also a threat on the faceoff dot, posting a 59.1 percent success rate (13 wins, nine losses). ASU executed on the dot with a 51.9 percent success rate compared to DU’s 48.1 percent.

ASU has played a no. 1-ranked team five times in its program history:
2024-25: #1/1 Denver, 22-23 November
2022-23: #1/2 Denver, 2nd-3rd December
2021-22: #1 Minnesota State, 28-29 January
2020-21: #1 Minnesota, 3-4 January
2018-19: #1 Ohio State, 12-13 October

PERIODIC DIVISION

First period

ASU’s third line forward of Ryan Alexander (LW), Artem Shlain (C), and Kyle Smolen (RW) got started on Friday night in the Magness Arena. It took the trio just 35 seconds to score the opening goal on Denver netminder Matt Davies. Shlaine was credited with the goal, which bounced over the Davies pad after a scrum near the crease. DU tied the game with a power play goal 15 minutes later. DU outshot ASU, 12-10, in the opening frame.

Second period

About five minutes into the game, Benji Eckerle took a shot from a wide angle that forced the DU netminder to make a five-hole save. Eckerle and company celebrated for a goal and the play was reviewed by officials and the on-ice call of “no goals” was upheld. Two minutes later, ASU made good on the shot and scored a five-hole goal with Bennett Schimek after seven minutes to bring the 2-1 lead. Schimek was assisted by Lukas Sillinger and Cullen Potter. ASU held DU to just six shots on goal compared to the Sun Devils’ 15.

Third Period

ASU started the frame with 44 seconds left on its second man advantage of the night. DU killed the power play chance and then went to own advantage after a team penalty on Joel Kjellberg. Luke Pavicich came up huge in a two-minute span and made five saves to secure the penalty kick for the Sun Devils. ASU went for another kill, but was saved from executing the full two minutes when DU was called for interference. Neither team could convert on the man advantage. With four minutes left in the game, the Pioneers tied the game at 2-2. Just as the game looked headed for overtime, Shlaine ripped a shot from the high slot with just 45 seconds left for the game-winning goal.

UP NEXT: ASU faces No. 1/1 Denver in the second game of the series on Saturday, November 23 at 18.00 MST.