TEMPE, Ariz. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team traveled to Tempe, Arizona, to square off against the Arizona State Sun Devils for just the second time in program history. The Sun Devils would go on to win the contest 3-2, scoring all three of their goals in a three minute span in the second period.

Neither team was able to break through with any sort of sustained pressure in the opening 20, as shots were relatively close and both teams killed their respetive infractions. Halasz was tested with 13 shots against, including a break away opportunity that he denied. 

The flood gates opened in the middle frame, and both teams found the scoreboard. Grant Slukynsky opened the scoring as he was able to bat in a puck for his first collegiate goal. The Sun Devils responded quickly, with not one, but three goals in a span of about three minutes, and the Wildcats were in a hole quickly. The 'Cats earned two power plays as the period wound down and looked extremely dangerous on both attempts, but were unable to cut into the Sun Devil lead.

The 'Cats were finally able to convert on a power play opportunity late in the game, but couldn't find a third in the dying minutes.

The Wildcats fall to 0-2-1 overall, and the Sun Devils improve to 3-0-0 overall. 

Cat Nips

• Grant Slukynsky opened the scoring, notching his first career collegiate goal. Jeppe Urup was credited with an assist, his first as a Wildcat. Connor Eddy also registered an assist, his second of the year.
• Tanner Latsch scored his nation-leading sixth goal, fifth on the power play, to extend his point streak to three games. Andre Ghantous and Josh Zinger were credited with assists, extending their point streak to three games as well.
• Beni Halasz made 28 saves from 31 shots
• Artem Shlaine was the best faceoff man on the evening, winning 14 of 20 draws
• Aiden Gallacher recorded a team-high three blocks
• The Wildcats went 1/5 on the PP, and the Sun Devils went 1/4 on their man-advantages

How It Happened
1st Period
The first ten minutes were back and forth for the most part, as neither team was able to establish any sort of consistent control. The 'Cats had one powerplay opportunity in this frame, controlled the zone but couldn't generate anything dangerous.

The first dangerous chance of the game came from the top line of the 'Cats. Tanner Latsch gathered a loose puck, turned and fired a shot on net that generated a juicy rebound. Artem Shlaine was on the doorstep and got two wacks at it, but Semptimphelter was able to get a pad on both attempts.

Moments later, Beni Halasz made his first big save of the game, stopping an ASU forward who was sprung on a breakaway. The forward made his move to the backhand, but Halasz closed the fivehole and kept the game scoreless.

The 'Cats skated into the locker room down 8-13 in shots, were unsuccessful on the only power play opportunity, and successfully killed the only penalty.

2nd Period
The Wildcats light the lamp first, and Grant Slukynsky was 'Johnny on the Spot'. Michael Mesic fired a puck and corralled his own rebound, he then made a pass to a wide-open Slukynsky who made no mistake in burying his first career collegiate goal.

The Sun Devils responded quickly, as a mad scramble landed on the stick of Tim Lovell who was unaccounted for on the back post, equalizing at one-a-piece. About two minutes later, Kyle Smolen scored on an NMU delayed penalty, giving the Sun Devils a one goal lead and a power play.

On the ensuing man advantage, the Sun Devils scored as a puck deflected off the skate of Tyler Gratton and into the back of the net.

The 'Cats earned back-to-back power play opportunities in the final five minutes of play, but were unable to capitalize on either chances despite generating plenty of dangerous looks.

The 'Cats skate into the third down a pair, and were unsuccesful on both of the power play attempts while conceding a power play goal.

3rd Period
The 'Cats were whistled twice and were staring in the face of an abbreviated 5-on-3 kill that could have potentially sealed the deal, which they faced head-on and succesfully killed both, keeping the game in reach.

The 'Cats earned two power play opportunities late in the frame, and the Wildcats struck on the second opportunity with just over four minutes to go. Tanner Latsch fanned on a one timer then shoveled a puck toward the crease that deflected off a Sun Devil defender and into the net, making it a one goal game.

Scoring By Period
1st
None

2nd
6:32 - Slukynsky (NMU) - assisted by Urup and Eddy (1-0)
8:52 - Lovell (ASU) - assisted by L. Sillinger and J. Niedermayer (1-1)
10:11 - Smolen (ASU) - assisted by O'Reilly and Eckerle (1-2)
11:36 - Gratton (ASU PPG) - assisted by Schoen and Lovell (1-3)

3rd
15:29 - Latsch (NMU PP) - assisted by Zinger and Ghantous (2-3)

Up Next
The Wildcats wrap-up its road series tomorrow night against the Sun Devils at 10 p.m ET