On Nov. 1, Miami snapped a nearly two-year-old NCHC winless streak with a 5-2 win over Arizona State at Cady Arena.
The RedHawks are still last in the conference with eight points, but they have a chance to make a major move this weekend with a strong effort in Tempe.
VFG takes a look at the upcoming series:
WHO: Miami RedHawks (11-7-2, 2-6-2 NCHC) at Arizona State Sun Devils (11-10-1, 4-5-1).
WHERE: Mullett Arena (5,000), Tempe, Ariz.
WHEN: Friday–9:05 p.m.; Saturday–7:05 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Arizona State leads, 3-2-1.
VIDEO STREAMING: Both nights–NCHC.tv ($).
MIAMI RADIO: Miamiredhawks.com, Greg Waddell (PxP).
ARIZONA STATE RADIO: Both nights–KGME-AM (910), Tempe, Ariz.
NOTES: Arizona State won the Desert Classic — which could be renamed the battle of the schools starting with the letter ‘A’ (Air Force and Alaska-Anchorage were also there) — last weekend and has won seven of its last 10 games.
The Sun Devils hemorrhaged goals early in the season, going 3-7-1 in its first 11 and allowing 39 goals in that span (3.54 average), but Connor Hasley has helped ASU tighten up in net with a .921 save percentage.
The last the Bentley transfer senior allowed more than three goals was in Oxford on Nov. 1.
Offensively, the Sun Devils remain very top heavy, as only four skaters have recorded 10 or more points.
But Arizona State boasts the top two scorers in Division I.
Carolina draftee Cruz Lucius leads the NCAA with 32 points, including 12 goals, and he’s also ASU’s most dangerous threat on the power play, with five PPGs.
Bennett Schimek is second in college hockey at 10-21-31, with his assist total leading all of D-1.
Tied for fifth in the NCHC is Cullen Potter with a mere 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points.
That trio combined for eight points when the Sun Devils visited Oxford to kick off the conference schedule.
With a dominant line like that, it’s not surprising that Arizona State is 11th in the NCAA on the power play at 24.1 percent.
The Sun Devils are No. 43 in goals allowed (3.27) and fifth-last in shots on goal against (34.8), and so we could see some higher-scoring games.
These teams have played three series prior — all in Oxford. ASU was an independent when it faced Miami in 2023 and as an NCHC member last season, the Sun Devils only played the RedHawks on the road.
ASU sits in fifth place in the league with 13 points, so Miami could technically catch the Sun Devils with a sweep and would likely vault at least one of the other three teams between them in that scenario.
The teams play home-and-home this season for the first time.
Miami has lost 11 straight January games dating back to its Jan. 13, 2024 win over Western Michigan.
Mathis Langevin won his RedHawks debut in net in the third-place game of the Great Lakes Invitational, stopping 30 of 32 shots, so it will be interesting to see how coach Anthony Noreen handles his goaltenders.
Matteo Drobac played every minute of the first 19 games.
Mullett Arena was actually home to the Phoenix Coyotes after their lease ended in suburban Glendale, and without an NHL-size rink, they left for Utah prior to 2024-25.
So this is actually the first NHL rink Miami has played in since Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for the 2013 CCHA Tournament.
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View From the Glass 
I’m just super impressed with this team. Seems like night and day from last year. Hopefully Coach Noreen can keep building with a solid recruiting class. Great to see Goggin rocking again.
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