For two years running, Oklahoma snapped ASU's undefeated home work, like it did with the Sooners' 5-3 victory Thursday night. ASU wasn't able to get revenge for its 2014 loss, but it will have another shot at revenge Friday against another Oklahoma school.
No. 2 Central Oklahoma comes to town for a two-game set, the first time the two schools have met since Central Oklahoma beat ASU 7-4 Oct. 16 in Edmund, Okla., the first team to beat ASU this year.
And it's not like Central Oklahoma's win was a flash in the pan. The Bronchos have lost three times all season, to Lindenwood, Oklahoma and a surprise loss to Colorado State. Central Oklahoma started its second half off with a bang Thursday night, knocking off Arizona 6-3 in Tucson. It started its season off with an 18-game winning streak, but finished the first half a pedestrian 2-2-1.
Central Oklahoma is an offensive powerhouse, scoring 5.8 goals per game and six times scoring at least seven goals. The team is led by six players who average at least a point per game, with Gaven Hohl's 17 goals and 19 assists producing the team-leading 36 points. In their first meeting on the season, it was Trevor Yee and Michael Rivera who torched the Sun Devils, as Yee notched three points and Rivera had a hat trick.
While the Bronchos are not known for their defense, the 2.3 goals they allow per game is still formidable. They've received improved goalie play this season, splitting time between Tory Caldwell and Bretton Patchett, who each have two shutouts on the season. Caldwell was in net when the Bronchos beat ASU in October.
Puck drops at 7:30 for both games Friday and Saturday, and will be played at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe.