Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 11 Davenport suffered another setback to No. 2 Arizona State Wednesday night in a tough 2-0 loss. The Sun Devils scored 13 minutes into the game and that would be all the scoring until ASU put in an empty net goal with 0.9 seconds left in the game.
Phil Graveline made 31 saves and allowed only one goal in the loss. That one goal came by Arizona State's Colin Heckle with 6:42 remaining in the first period. The shot went over the left shoulder of Graveline and into the top right corner of the goal.
Davenport had their best opportunities to score in the second period where they took nearly half of their 27 shots.
The Panthers, who has struggle lately on the penalty kill, prevented Arizona State from scoring on all five of their power play opportunities. Unfortunately, Davenport wasn't able to convert any of their power play opportunities either going 0-5.
In net for Arizona State was former Davenport goalie Joseph D'Elia. D'Elia, who transferred to ASU over winter break, stopped all 27 Davenport shots for the shutout win.
This was the second time this season that Davenport has been shutout, both instances came on the road. The other time Davenport was shutout this season was on December 12th when Davenport lost 5-0 at Oakland.
Davenport will be in action again this weekend when they play at the University of Arizona on Friday and Saturday. The game on Friday is already sold out and they are expecting over 3,000 people to be in attendance.
Post-Game Quotes – Head Coach Phil Sweeney
Thoughts on game and play of Phil Graveline – “Graveline was outstanding tonight, he made a lot of great saves. He kept our team in it all game long. He played real well and the guys in front of him played real well. It was a good team effort. It was a 1-0 game until they got an empty netter, to play 60 minutes of hockey and have only one goal, it was a good game overall.”
On better play and what they can take away from this game going into games against Arizona – “We played the No. 2 team in the country and we played them 60 minutes in their barn. We can take away a little momentum. Now we know we can play 60 minutes of hockey and that's what its going to take to beat the best teams in the country. One goal, one shot thats the difference. This game shows how close this team really is. When we want to play, we are going to be very dangerous.”
Post-Game Notes
Davenport is now 1-3 all-time against Arizona State…This was the first game since the holiday break that Davenport hasn't given up two power play goals (14 power play goals allowed in 5 previous games)…Davenport has never faced the University of Arizona prior to this weekend.
