Arizona State ties Michigan, 3-3, backed by late third period goals

TEMPE, Ariz. — Most teams have their ‘usual suspects’ — the players most expected to score goals and tally the most points in the season. 

But sometimes, unexpected players are the gamebreakers when the usual suspects can’t seem to get a goal. 

In a back-and-forth battle between the No. 10 Michigan hockey team (1-2-1) and Arizona State (2-1-1), the win wasn’t going to come easy for either team. The Wolverines thought they were going to skate away with a 3-1 victory over the Sun Devils, but Arizona State scored two quick goals in the last minute of the third period, forcing overtime. Michigan settled for a 3-3 tie despite its early lead, and the Sun Devils came out on top in the shootout.

From the draw, Arizona State was hungry for a goal, forcing Michigan into submission for much of the first period and putting the spotlight on the Wolverine defensemen. Michigan got its first power play not even five minutes into the period, and sophomore forward Nick Moldenhauer attempted to give the Wolverines the early lead with multiple dangerous shots. 

It took the Michigan defensemen time to adjust to the pace, with freshman netminder Cameron Korpi picking up loose pucks and making clutch saves. As intermission approached, the Sun Devils increased the pressure. But junior defenseman Tyler Duke delivered some big hits and stymied Arizona State chances before they could reach Korpi. 

Driven by his success in the first period, it was clear Duke was ready to make a big move in the second. With a long-range pass from Whitelaw to graduate defenseman Tim Lovell on the blue line, Lovell sent the puck to an unmarked Duke, who skated to the point and scored a slap-shot goal.  

But, the Sun Devils didn’t let that lead last for long. On a delayed penalty on senior defenseman Ethan Edwards for cross-checking, Arizona State forward Dylan Jackson sent a shot in the slot that richocheted off the right pipe and into the goal, tying the game at one. 

Michigan earned some early momentum in the third period on a power play after freshman forward Michael Hage was tripped, but that momentum soon disappeared after junior forward T.J. Hughes scored a goal that was overturned for goaltender interference. But nearly halfway through the third period, Lapointe emerged and gave the Wolverines the leverage they needed. 

Sophomore forward Garrett Schifsky took a hit but managed to get the puck to Hughes. Getting turned around, Hughes passed the puck back to Schifsky, who found Lapointe at the netfront. Quickly after, Hage decided he needed to join in on the fun and continue his streak of having at least one point per game, making the game 3-1. He clogged a passing lane in the right faceoff circle, picked up the puck and sent an easy puck into the back of the net. 

In the final minute, the Sun Devils tied the game with an empty goal and a man advantage. A mere 16 seconds apart, Arizona State forwards Noah Beck and Cullen Porter sent slapshot pucks past Korpi and forced overtime. 

Michigan had more chances on goal in the overtime period, but the Sun Devils were able to mitigate all of the Wolverines’ shots and turn the game into a shootout. With Hage and freshman forward Christian Humphreys both missing their shots, it was Hughes’ up to Hughes, and the Arizona State goaltender saved it, earning the moral victory in the shootout. 

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