Princeton Falls in OT to Arizona State, 4-3

Saturday, December 9

Tempe, Ariz.

7:00 PM (MT)

Princeton University

6-7-1

Arizona State

4-9-3

OT 1

PRINCETON

ARIZONA STATE

Photo by: Princeton Athletic Communications

December 09, 2017 | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Princeton (6-7-1) held a 3-2 lead in the third period thanks to back-to-back goals from junior Ryan Kuffner but the final three minutes all went the Sun Devils way.

Brett Gruber got Arizona State (4-9-3) back in the game with a 6-on-4 extra attacker goal with 57 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and teammate David Norris gave the Sun Devils the win on a lucky bounce at 1:47 to lift ASU to a 4-3 win in OT.

After having a three-point affair on Friday night, junior Alex Riche got things started on Saturday with a goal for the Tigers at 6:33 of the first period, his third of the season. He helped shuffled the puck down the half wall to junior Max Véronneau, who chipped the puck past his defender and took into the left circle where he pushed it out to Riche who was skating into the offensive zone and he rifled a shot past Joey Daccord.

Tyler Busch tied the game with a power-play goal at 3:55 of the second period, a period that proved to be a battle between Daccord and Princeton netminder Ben Halford. Both goalies made highlight reel saves and had 14 each. Busch released a drive from the left point from Brinson Pasichnuk and Brett Gruber.

Just 1:09 into the third period and ASU took its first lead as David Norris poked free a Busch rebound and put it away.

Kuffner scored twice in 1:15 to push the Tigers back ahead 3-2. The first came on a scramble in front with Kuffner getting the final touch with freshman Matthew Thom and Véronneau assisting. Nelson helped set up Kuffner's second goal, a bottle knocker from the blue line.

Halford made 32 saves for the Tigers and Daccord finished with 38.

Princeton was 0 for 3 on the power play, while Arizona State went 2 for 5.

The Tigers will take a break from action and return to the ice hosting St. Cloud State in a pair of games on Dec. 29 & 30.