With the game tied at 2-2, with under 30 seconds to go in overtime, Arizona State senior forward Kyle Smolen passed the puck to freshman forward Cullen Potter in the neutral zone. The 18-year-old burst into the zone and scored from the left-wing faceoff circle, sending Mullett Arena into a frenzy.
OT Mullett Magic from Pottsy 🪄 #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/z5EhzCI69d
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) November 23, 2025
The Arizona State Sun Devils (5-8-1) upset the No. 3 Denver Pioneers (9-4-1) in overtime, 3-2, on Saturday night. The Sun Devils received key contributions up and down their lineup, including senior goaltender Connor Hasley.
“Really proud of our guys,” ASU coach Greg Powers said. “The response was really good … tonight was easily our best 60-minute effort of the season.”
On Friday night, the Maroon and Gold’s netminders allowed seven goals; Hasley turned the page from the previous night.
“He was tremendous,” Powers said. “He made those two huge saves in overtime, which were huge for us and gave us a fighting chance to win. He was fantastic.”
Hasley saved 42 shots and led the Sun Devils on the penalty kill.
“You need your goalie to be your best penalty killer,” Powers said. “And he was tonight.”
Arizona State delivered on both sides of special teams. The Sun Devils survived a Pioneers 5-on-3 man advantage and killed all four penalties. Arizona State was 50% on the power play, both chances coming in the first period.
“Special teams to kill was amazing,” Powers said. “We win the special teams battle. We won the game by a goal and that was the difference.”
The Sun Devils never let the foot off the gas physically, nor did they play slow. ASU used its speed from freshman forward Carmelo Crandell, physicality from its defense and Smolen to generate chances in front of the net.
“Blocked shots are not a request, but a requirement,” Smolen said. “Tonight, as a group, we stepped up and said, ‘You know what? We have to look at ourselves in the mirror. Do we want it or not?’ And I think we did a good job answering the bell there.”
Crandell opened the scoring for the Sun Devils after a mistake from Denver freshman goaltender Quentin Miller. He went behind his crease to clear a puck, and freshman forward Ben Kevan met him, stripped the puck away, found Smolen, who slotted it down low in the slot to Crandell, who had a wide-open net.
“When you are a freshman coming into this league, it is really hard to get adjusted,” Smolen said. “He has done a great job of growing every single week. There are going to be times he is going to make mistakes, and he has been exceptional at putting those mistakes behind him and finding ways to get better down the stretch.”
Freshman forward Jack Beck’s hot streak continued as he tallied his fourth goal in eight games on the power play. After the opening 20 minutes, ASU held a 2-0 lead.
Denver didn’t get discouraged by two first-period goals. The Pioneers had a goal disallowed earlier in the game and hit the post early in the second period. The offensive pressure proved too much for Arizona State as junior forward Sam Harris cut the deficit to one, skating all the way from his own zone to the offensive faceoff circle, where he beat Hasley high stick side.
Denver carried that momentum into the third period when Harris potted another one home with 7:28 remaining in regulation.
Smolen, who assisted each Sun Devil goal, slowed down the pressure and brought focus back to his team. The captain was moved to the fourth line and showcased his leadership and passing prowess. Smolen’s presence in overtime, on the power play and kill lifted Arizona State to its fifth win of the season.
“I really like that line (the fourth line),” Powers said. “Because he gives them responsibility and grit, and it was a really good line. Smolen does everything for us … He is the most willing kid I have ever had. He will do anything we need to do to win games.”
The Arizona State Sun Devils will stay at Mullett Arena for a two-game series against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Puck drop for Game 1 is 3 p.m. MST on Nov. 28 in Tempe.
“We are building and getting better every weekend,” Smolen said. “Especially in this arena. So if we can get this place going early, it is one of the toughest places in college hockey.”
Leave a Reply