A white-out-themed Mullett Arena hosted the second contest of Arizona State hockey’s two-game series against the No. 10 University of Michigan. In the end, the Sun Devils surged with less than a minute left in the game, scoring two goals 15 seconds apart to tie the Wolverines 3-3.
“There was never any doubt — our guys believed the whole way,” ASU coach Greg Powers said about his team. “Even down 3-1, there was genuine belief that we could come back.”
With 2:19 left in the game, Michigan senior forward Mark Estapa was sent to the penalty box for interference. Powers pulled junior goalie Gibson Homer to make it a 6-on-4 advantage for the Sun Devils.
After setting up in the offensive zone, Arizona State graduate student forward Lukas Sillinger fed graduate student defenseman Noah Beck for a one-time blast from the point. Beck’s shot through traffic gave ASU life with 59 seconds left and was the team’s second goal.
“It was amazing,” the 6-foot-3, left-handed shot said after scoring his first goal in the maroon and gold. “Obviously at home too with a great atmosphere, I was very excited. I think it showed a little a bit (on his celebration) — just nice to come out with that tie there and get the shootout win for the fans.”
The Sun Devils’ fan base and “Mullett Magic” were in full effect again. Arizona State freshman forward Cullen Potter commented on the environment after playing in his first home series.
“It was amazing,” the 17-year-old said. “The student section was electric, they’re always on their feet chanting something.”
Potter leveled the score at 3-3 with a shot from inside the red line that beat Michigan freshman goalie Cameron Korpi. The roughly 75-foot shot skipped right in front of the crease and beat Korpi’s low-glove side.
After a back-and-forth scoreless overtime, Potter got the nod from Powers to be the Sun Devils’ first shooter in the shootout. The noteworthy projected 2025 draft selection skated down Broadway and shelved a shot over Korpi’s right shoulder.
“There are people who said he wouldn’t be ready for college hockey,” Powers said about Potter. “And he just went out against the University of Michigan and was easily one of the best players on the ice.”
Homer shut the door on all three Wolverine shooters in the shootout, handing ASU a shootout win (the result of a non-conference shootout doesn’t count towards a team’s record in college hockey).
Before the game’s four-goal third period, two pucks were put in the back of the net in the second period. Michigan junior defenseman Tyler Duke opened the scoring with a wrist shot that was labeled into the top-right corner of the net. About 10 minutes later, Sun Devils graduate student forward Dylan Jackson snapped a puck over Korpi’s glove side, evening the score at 1-1.
Arizona State holds a 1-2-1 record heading into its next matchup.
Powers talked about ASU’s faith in each other to tie the score.
“The relentless belief and not giving up against a really good team — we can do this against anybody,” Powers said. “Again, just building that belief as we get into this schedule, it’s the toughest schedule we’ve ever played. It gets no easier — we play Providence (College) at Providence they’re one hell of a team.”
The Sun Devils will travel to play at Schneider Arena in Rhode Island on Oct. 18 and 19 for their next series.
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