ASU hockey's last road trip may have ended with a win, but its three-game trip in Connecticut got off to a rocky start.
In its first game against a ranked NCAA opponent, ASU hockey was smothered and lost 5-0 to No. 17 Quinnipiac, despite an impressive performance from freshman goaltender Ryland Pashovitz, who started his second consecutive game on Thursday.
Pashovitz finished with 52 saves, a season-high for the Sun Devils (1-2). In addition, the Sun Devils were outshot 57 to 14 in total.
The Sun Devils never seemed to gain any momentum on Thursday as the Bobcats (4-0) started with an early barrage on Pashovitz and did not let up. Quinnipiac outshot ASU 11 to three in the first few minutes of the game, which set the tone for the rest of the contest.
However, Pashovitz could not hold forever as Quinnipiac freshman forward Thomas Aldworth, who scored two goals, shot a laser to convert on the power play and put the Bobcats on the board with 12:38 left in the first period.
In the second period, Derek Smith slid the puck across the face of net and Aldowrth easily finished it for his second goal of the game and third of the season.
ASU's defensive lines were working hard as junior Drew Newmeyer and sophomore Ed McGovern led the team in blocked shots at there apiece. McGovern came into the game leading the nation in blocked shots with 14 of them.
The Sun Devils could not escape the second period as Devon Toews—unrelated to Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan—scored to make it 3-0 heading to the third.
Just as the first two periods were, the third looked like much of the same. ASU could not muster anything fluid on the offensive end and it showed. It did not get many chances to start possession either as Quinnipiac won 39 of the game's 63 face-offs.
The defensemen started to wear out and the Bobcats scored two more goals in the third period, one on a power play.
While Quinnipiac scored on two of three power plays, ASU couldn't convert on its two opportunities, something that has been the case throughout early stages of the season.
Sun Devil hockey will look to get back even on the road trip when the puck drops at 4:05 p.m. PT against UCONN on Friday.
Related Links:
Road trip preview: ASU hockey begins three game slate in Connecticut
ASU hockey gets first non-North American commit in DI history
Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or follow @justintoscano3 on Twitter
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