Following a tough series of road trips, the ASU hockey team returned home to Tempe in preparation for their two-game stint against Southern New Hampshire at Oceanside Arena. The Sun Devils (1-4) struggled on both sides of the ice against Division I opponents out East and are looking to right the ship offensively and to reduce penalty minutes.
In ASU's previous three losses, the Sun Devils amassed 42 shorthanded minutes from 21 total penalties, surrendering six power play goals total, two in each game. On the other side of the man advantage, the Sun Devils were 0-for-11 averaging just one shot on each power play.
When asked about what he would like to change on the power play, head coach Greg Powers told the media on Wednesday: "Everything."
Along with offensive struggles, ASU will look to its two freshman goaltenders, Ryland Pashovitz and David Jacobson, in the absence of junior goalie Robert Levin, who suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's loss to UConn forcing him to sit out the remainder of the road trip and for the foreseeable future.
Players to Watch:
Southern New Hampshire
No. 28 forward Joe Collins
Southern New Hampshire (Division II) experienced some success in its previous season, finishing 10-12-2, 3-7-1 in conference. Leading the team was junior forward Joe Collins who scored 13 goals and collected 29 assists, top two numbers in both categories.
Collins also suited up for 24 games to lead the team, cementing himself as the foundation of the Penmen offense. Aiding him offensively were senior forward Dan Caracino with 15 goals and 19 assists, and freshman forward Jay Silva added 10 goals, 11 assists himself.
ASU
No. 16 forward Ryan Belonger
No. 33 goalie David Jacobson
Few positives came from ASU's trip out East, however, the young club will look to right the ship for its first games back home. The Sun Devils scored only one goal in three games and found themselves too often in the penalty box and down a man on the ice.
Now, returning home absent their junior goaltender, the Sun Devils will look to consistent offensive producers like Belonger and freshman defenseman Joey Raats. Belonger scored the lone goal for ASU in the state of Connecticut, adding to his total for the road trip following a goal that lifted the Sun Devils over Alaska Fairbanks the week before.
In the absence of Levin, Powers confirmed Jacobson will make his first NCAA Division I start in one of the two games versus Southern New Hampshire after playing in his first DI game versus Connecticut. Jacobson allowed one goal and saved 28 shots over two periods and 36:00 of ice time last Saturday.
Keys to victory
For the Sun Devils to win, ASU will need production from its young forwards (who all showed flashes of brilliance in ASU's first-game victory against ACHA rival Arizona) combined with discipline on the defensive end. Both teams will have to not only stay out of the penalty box, but also produce when the other team is shorthanded. The Penmen benefited from 17 power play goals last season. The Sun Devils will look to freshman netminders in Pashovitz and Jacobson to keep the Penman's tallies to a minimum.
Prediction
Game 1: ASU; 5-1
Game 2: ASU; 6-3
Related Links:
ASU hockey focusing on positives, process, but facing reality before first NCAA homestand
Robert Levin ruled out for ASU hockey after tweaking ankle, will undergo MRI
Reach the reporter at csafran@asu.edu and follow @ChrisSafran on Twitter.
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
