Penalties were too much to overcome in ASU’s first-ever Division 1 home game, as the Sun Devils fell 5-2 to University of Connecticut.
The teams entered the game with similar records; ASU was 5-14-0 entering the game, while the Huskies were 5-12-1. Both have been outscored by opponents this season, and both have allowed an average of more than 30 shots per game. In this contest, their abilities to convert on the power play proved to be critical.
The Sun Devils gave David Jacobson the nod at goaltender in the matchup, just his second game of the year.
A competitive first period saw two penalties by each team, including 1:17 of four-on-four play late in the frame. Neither team netted a goal, but UConn outshot ASU 15-7. The Sun Devils came into the game scoring 17.5 percent on power plays, while the Huskies were at 18.9 percent.
In the second period, the Huskies converted its shot lead into a scoring lead. They netted three goals in the period one on the power play.
“We’re not nearly good enough to take four offensive zone penalties,” said head coach Greg Powers. “It’s inexcusable.”
The Sun Devils finally answered with 1:16 to go in the second period on a redemption goal by freshman forward Jordan Masters, his seventh of the season. Masters was in the box for ASU’s first second-period penalty, on which UConn’s freshman forward Tage Thompson scored his team’s first goal of the night.
By second intermission, UConn still had a 3-1 commanding lead and a 32-19 advantage in shots on goal.
In the third, UConn took the goal right back on Thompson’s second tally of the evening.
With just over 14 minutes to go in the third, junior forward Ryan Belonger dealt the Huskies’ junior defensiveman Joona Kunnas a hard hit along the boards in UCONN’s zone. Kunnas was down for significant time, delaying the game and drawing a five-minute major for ASU. Belonger will be disqualified for the team’s next game, which is slated for Friday in the Desert Hockey Classic.
On that power play, the Huskies secured a goal from captain senior forward Patrick Kirtland, his second goal of the night to put his team up 5-1.
Powers said that he’d hoped for better out of Jacobson in net, but goaltending didn’t cost the Sun Devils the game.
“I think he needs to play better for us to win,” he said. “There’s some goals there that I think he would want back. Certainly, we didn’t lose because of goaltending.”
A strong performance by Connecticut sophomore goaltender Tanner Creel helped the Huskies hold their large lead. A highlight-reel stop by the netminder added insult to injury to the Sun Devils, who trailed by four with nine minutes left in the game.
Masters took a hard hit along the boards, drawing a penalty on UConn’s sophomore defenseman Johnny Austin. Masters stayed in the game for the power play, and scored his second goal of the match.
Coach Powers commended Masters for his strong play amidst a poor overall performance.
“He’s a hell of a player,” said Powers. “He’s not fluking his way to his stat line. He’s producing on a team that struggles to produce. I don’t want to say he’s doing it all on his own, but, he kind of is. He’s a special player, and we’re really lucky that he’s here, and we’re going to build this thing around him.”
Masters’ strong play wasn’t enough as ASU fell 5-2. UCONN outshot the Sun Devils 41 to 22.
ASU will try to snap its seven-game losing streak when it faces Yale in the Desert Hockey Classic on Friday.
Reach the assistant sports editor at mattjlayman@gmail.com or follow @Mattjlayman on Twitter.
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