Arizona State Sun Devils upset No. 3 Denver Pioneers overtime 3-2: weekend redemption at Mullett Arena

The Arizona State Sun Devils pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent college hockey memory, stunning the No. 3 Denver Pioneers 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night at Mullett Arena. Less than 24 hours after suffering a humbling 7-1 defeat in the series opener, Greg Powers’ squad completed a remarkable reversal that exemplified resilience and tactical discipline. Freshman forward Cullen Potter etched his name into Sun Devils lore with the game-winning goal, while senior goaltender Connor Hasley delivered a 42-save performance that kept his team competitive throughout the evening.

The victory improved Arizona State’s record to 5-8-1 overall and 3-4-1 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play, vaulting them into fourth place in the early-season standings. For Denver, the loss marked their first conference defeat of the season after beginning NCHC play with a perfect 5-0-0 record. The result sent shockwaves through the college hockey landscape and demonstrated that on any given night, determination can trump rankings.

How Arizona State reversed Friday’s nightmare

Friday’s series opener couldn’t have gone worse for the Sun Devils. Denver jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the second period was even two minutes old, with Eric Pohlkamp, Samu Salminen, and Boston Buckberger all finding the back of the net in rapid succession. The Pioneers never looked back, cruising to a decisive 7-1 victory that left Arizona State searching for answers.

Head coach Greg Powers didn’t mince words after the lopsided defeat. “The score sucks, the score is embarrassing,” Powers admitted frankly. “I hope it pisses our guys off, and we come back a lot harder.” That emotional plea resonated deeply within the locker room, as the team processed the reality of their situation. With a series sweep threatening to bury them in the NCHC standings, the Sun Devils faced a pivotal character test.

The response was immediate and emphatic. Unlike Friday’s sluggish start, Arizona State controlled the opening period on Saturday, building a 2-0 lead through aggressive forechecking and disciplined defensive structure. Junior forward Kyle Smolen emphasized the collective mindset shift, explaining, “What’s there to lose at this point, it’s on us, no one’s coming to save us at the end of the day, it’s on us to figure out. How are we gonna turn the ship around? The only way to do it is to start off hot.”