BOULDER – The Colorado Division I men's hockey team is just two weeks away from meeting their fate regarding nationals.
After splitting a two-game series against San Diego State last week, the Buffaloes were placed at No. 26 in the ACHA. The top 24 teams make it to nationals. Needless to say, this weekend was a must-win.
Colorado has only won both games in a given weekend once this season. It was during their first games of the year against San Diego State.
Arizona State is coming in this series at the tail end of what has been an off-year for the program. Usually a top program in the ACHA, ASU finds itself last in the WCHL but still ranked in the top 30 out of 72 schools. That is just how good the WCHL is from top to bottom this season.
Puck drop came and went and both teams used most of the first period to get a feel for each other. The only goal that was scored in the first came off a frenzy in front of the net that ASU defenseman Ian Erdman flew the puck past CU goaltender Matt Server.
The Buffs nearly responded as Blake Blevins drove the net. The puck popped up behind ASU goaltender Anthony Bonaldi, ensuing a mad dash for the puck before it bounced just wide of the net as the posts came off the moorings. After a physical first period, the Buffs trailed 1-0 and were inches away from a tie hockey game.
In the second, physicality continued and it felt like every big hit on the boards was drawing a penalty. Five penalties were assessed in the first period and five more in the second period. In the middle of the middle, two penalties overlapped and led to 4-on-4 play. Off the first faceoff of the session, Drew McConaughy fired a wicked wrister past Bonaldi and tied the game for the Buffaloes.
At this point in the game, the penalty kill had the upper hand. That changed when Caleb Gold of Colorado took a roughing penalty shortly after McConaughy tied the game. On the ensuing power play, Caden Butler fired a shot near the blue line, beating Server up high. Everyone on the ice acted as if it hit the crossbar and Tyler Kiley-Ram made sure that if Butler missed, it would still count. Butler’s shot had gone into the net so the goal was his. The Sun Devils took the lead 2-1.
Just eleven seconds later, the black and gold wasted no time squaring the game back up. Rapolas Marcinkevicius was all alone in front of ASU’s net, Jacob Rosolanko fed him the puck, and Rap did not miss. Tie game.
The second period came to a close and these teams had fought tooth and nail to get to their current position. The last 20 minutes were huge for the Buffaloes as a loss would, in effect, end their nationals hopes.
Early in the third, CU’s Brodie Pearson tried to clear the puck and lead McConaughy on a rush. The puck went off McConaughy’s skate and produced a quick 2-on-0 opportunity with no one but Server to defend. However, Server read the quick pass and shut the door for one of his best saves of the season.
In the following, a collection of penalties were assessed, the biggest of which, sent CU’s Pearson to the box for a five-minute major penalty for a check from behind. There would be 4-on-4 play for half a minute before ASU would go on the powerplay for over four minutes. With the game tied, this was a huge moment in this game. Arizona State had the momentum up to this point in the period, a perfect opportunity for the road team to grab the lead again. The Buffs slowly but surely killed off more and more time off the penalty with blocked shots and saves from Server. Colorado looked composed and with time winding down, Jesse Kittay and Adam Trunko combined to clear the puck down the ice and kill off the penalty. The black and gold stifled a potent scoring attack and held down the fort.
Just 30 seconds later, Arizona State would take a holding penalty to flip the script and give the Buffs momentum back. On the power play, Kittay shot near the blue line and Bonaldi made a routine save. The problem was, Max Pasiennik was there to scoop up the shot turned pass and deke around the ASU netminder to give the Buffs their first lead of the game.
After hanging on for dear life, the Buffaloes had stripped momentum away and used it to their advantage. ASU, desperate to tie the game up, lost the puck deep in the Colorado zone, leading to a rush for Rosolanko and George Issa. Issa slung a short pass to Rosolanko moments before getting hit at center ice. Rosolanko lost the puck before Marcinkevicius picked it up and while skating toward the slot, looked like he was going to pass it to Issa. Marcinkevicius faked out everyone including ASU’s Anthony Bonaldi as he shot at an awkward angle over the glove side and gave the Buffaloes a two-goal lead with his second of the night.
Not only had the Buffaloes stolen momentum, but now suddenly had a two-goal lead with nine minutes to play. A flurry of penalties followed for the remainder of the game and Arizona State had lost all momentum and waved the white flag as the Buffs took the match 4-2.
Colorado has now won the first game of a two-game weekend for the fourth straight week as they stole a win to stay alive in the nationals race. They go back to work on Saturday to try and complete a weekend sweep for the first time since September. Accomplishing this task is imperative if they want to continue to fight for a spot in St. Louis.
All Colorado club hockey games are broadcast live on the Sko Buffs Sports YouTube channel.
Cover photo by Cristian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports
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