Nov. 19, 2017
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Sophomore Brandon Biro (Sherwood Park, Alb.) registered his second consecutive multi-point game to help lift Penn State past Arizona State, 4-2, in non-conference ice hockey action this evening to conclude the season series at Gila River Arena.
With the weekend sweep the Nittany Lions run their season record back to .500 at 7-7-0 while the Sun Devils fall to 2-8-2 on the year with the setback.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Arizona State opened the early in the first period as Johnny Walker found Brett Gruber on the right side of the crease during an odd-man rush and the sophomore lit the lamp for the 1-0 edge just 1:40 into the contest.
- Penn State responded with the equalizer at 6:34 of the first period as freshman Sam Sternschein (Syosset, N.Y.) sent a beautiful stretch pass from the defensive zone up to Biro at the blue line and he skated into the offensive zone one-on-one with his defender and ripped a wrist shot from the right circle beating ASU net-minder Joey Daccord high-glove for the 1-1 score.
- Junior Chase Berger (St. Louis, Mo.) then took advantage of a strong fore-check by senior James Robinson (Cochrane, Alb.) in the offensive zone as he intercepted a pass, skated below the left dot and fired past the blocker of Daccord for the 2-1 lead just 26 seconds later.
- The Nittany Lions extended their lead late in the second period as just seconds after a power-play expired junior Derian Hamilton (Port McNeill, B.C.) fired home his first collegiate goal from the slot after a great feed from Biro at 19:13 for the 3-1 lead.
- The Sun Devils cut the deficit to a single goal midway through the third period as Tyler Busch punched home a rebound off Joe Lappin's initial shot for the 3-2 score at 9:51.
- Sophomore Brett Murray (Bolton, Ont.) then registered his first career goal as he hit the empty net at 18:47 for the 4-2 final.
GOALTENDING
Sophomore Peyton Jones (Langhorne, Pa.) improves to 6-5-0 on the year after stopping 23 shots while Daccord falls to 2-7-2 overall after a 45 save performance.
NOTES
- Penn State improves to 6-0-0 on the season when leading after the second period and are now 4-0-0 all-time against Arizona State outscoring the Sun Devils 26-6.
- The Nittany Lions held the 49-25 edge in shots on goal, but went 0-for-4 on the power-play while Arizona State went 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.
- Biro, Berger, Murray and Sternschein each extend their point-streaks to two games, which for Sternschein and Murray are career-high's.
- Biro now has a two-game goal streak marking the first time in his career he has scored in back-to-back contests. After adding a second period assist, the sophomore registered his second consecutive multi-point game and his third of the season and sixth of his career.
NEXT UP
Penn State returns home to welcome Michigan State over Thanksgiving weekend with a pair of Big Ten Conference tilts next Friday and Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
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| Final | ||||
| Penn State | 22 | 12 | 15 | 49 | |
| Arizona State | 6 | 5 | 14 | 25 |
| Final | ||||
| Penn State | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-4 | |
| Arizona State | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-3 |
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