By KYNDALL WINDHAM · The Skatin’ Rebels extended their undefeated start to the season Wednesday night with a 4-0 victory over Arizona State at City National Arena, improv…
The Skatin’ Rebels extended their undefeated start to the season Wednesday night with a 4-0 victory over Arizona State at City National Arena, improving their record to 12-0-0.
Both teams started new goaltenders for the second game of the series. Hayden Manning got the start for the Sun Devils, while Owen Zenone made his second appearance of the season for UNLV. Zenone recorded his first shutout of the year in the victory.
Shaun Rios opened the scoring for the Rebels at 14:04 of the first period, netting his sixth goal of the season off an assist from Michael Coleman.
UNLV added to its lead four minutes later when Mason Kelly put the puck past Manning. Dylan Jensen and Ryder McIntosh assisted on the goal.
The Rebels entered the first intermission with a 2-0 lead, a different start from Tuesday’s series opener, when neither team scored in the first period.
At 5:56 of the second period, Sun Devil Steven Lindsey earned a double penalty. The first call was a minor for slashing, and he received a minor unsportsmanlike conduct on the way to the penalty box.
The double minor gave UNLV an extended power-play opportunity. However, the Rebels were unable to capitalize and came away without a goal.
Discipline was also an area of improvement for UNLV. After taking six penalties in Tuesday’s game, the Rebels cut that number in half Wednesday, finishing with three.
“I think we could be a little bit better discipline-wise about taking dumb penalties, but I think toward the end of the game, we were doing better at that,” Kelly said. “You’re gonna lose games on the penalty kill, and you’re gonna win them on the power play.”
The Sun Devils continued to play an aggressive game, taking penalties for infractions including cross-checking, roughing, and slashing. Neither team found the back of the net in the second period, sending the Rebels into the third with a 2-0 advantage.
In the last five minutes of the third period, Charles Masek scored on the power play with assists from Deven Nagra and Zachary Boren to extend UNLV’s lead to 3-0.
Less than two minutes later, Alex Lunski scored his third goal of the season. Boren and Luke Baker assisted on the goal, giving the Rebels a four-goal cushion.
Arizona State made one final attempt to get on the scoreboard in the closing seconds, but the puck struck the crossbar, preserving Zenone’s shutout and securing the 4-0 victory for UNLV.
“You know when you get the opportunity, you have to make the most of it, and I feel like I did tonight,” Lunski said. “I got rewarded for going to the net and doing good.”
On the night, UNLV outshot ASU 56-16 with an astounding offensive performance. The victory marked the third consecutive game in which the Rebels have recorded a 4-0 shutout.
Three Stars
Owen Zenone- 1 SO, 16 SVS
Mason Kelly- 1 G
Shaun Rios- 1 G