ASU hockey did something Tempe has not seen in over a decade: win a playoff series at home.
In a packed, white-out Mullett Arena, ASU hockey had to beat the University of Minnesota-Duluth and advance to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minnesota, or see their season end.
They did just that thanks to senior forward Ryan Kirwan, the NCHC's leading goal scorer. Kirwan sealed the series win difficult-angle goal in overtime to keep the Sun Devils' season alive.
"I was pumped," Kirwan said. "Seeing the crowd erupt like that, seeing the boys come off the bench. There’s no better feeling."
Senior goaltender Luke Pavicich wanted the first period back. A giveaway from ASU freshman defenseman Joel Kjellberg led to a goal from UMD freshman forward Max Plante.
UMD’s constant pressure and puck movement in the offensive zone led to a second goal. The Bulldogs didn’t stop there and scored again less than three minutes later, ending 3-0 in the first period.
Head coach Greg Powers believed that his team was better in the first than what the score suggested.
"We didn’t have a bad first period," Powers said. "They were really opportunistic. We put a lot of shots on the kid (Adam Gajan), he was really good… They did a great job finishing chances."
The poor first period from Pavicich saw junior goaltender Gibson Homer enter the game to start the second. ASU saw immediate improvement as graduate forward Artem Shlaine put the Sun Devils on the board.
Following Shlaine’s goal, graduate forward Dylan Jackson scored to make it a one-goal game. Less than two minutes later, graduate defenseman Noah Beck tied the game at 3-3.
Shlaine said the fan energy gave them what they needed in the comeback.
"As a home team, today went down three and then we scored one goal," Shlaine said. "Still a two goal game, but the fans are into it. The building is into it and it helps us a lot."
The Bulldogs responded to the Sun Devils’ flurry of goals by taking the lead back midway through the second. ASU was unable to tie the game as the period ended 4-3.
Bouncing back was a consistent theme for the Sun Devils throughout the entire game and the third period was no different. Shlaine scored his second goal of the night to force another tie. Then, the Bulldogs responded less than two minutes later to go up 5-4.
ASU wasn’t done just yet. Their second-ranked powerplay provided the equalizer after a great set-up from graduate forward Ty Jackson allowed junior forward Bennett Schimek to force overtime.
Kirwan's game-winning goal in overtime secured a date in St. Paul, Minnesota, as ASU waits for its pairing. The Sun Devils will find out their opponent when the remaining teams are reseeded.
Powers was glad his team brought some playoff hockey back to the desert.
"To give that community and group of people some reprieve and to make them proud of what we're trying to build here," Powers said. "Continuing to build and give them that excitement. It means everything."
Edited by Jack Barron, Sophia Ramirez and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at niall.rosenberg@gmail.com and follow @RosenbergNiall on X.
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Niall is a junior studying sports journalism. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at WCSN and Blaze Radio.
