The Arizona Icecats opened their home schedule Friday night with a 5-4 loss to Arizona State at the Tucson Convention Center.
The game was decided in a shootout after the teams skated to a 4-4 tie in regulation time.
An energetic crowd witnessed a physical game between the rivals. The Icecats could not take advantage of four first-period power plays, and Arizona State capitalized on a two-man advantage late in first period to take a 1-0 lead.
The equalizer came early in the second period by center Cody Morin. Each squad notched two more goals to make it 3-3 entering the final period.
After killing a 5-on-3 penalty early in the third period, the Icecats took their first lead when Craig Irwin scored, assisted by Matt Conover. But the Sun Devils answered on a breakaway less than a minute later. The score was tied at 4 after three periods.
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After a scoreless overtime, the game went into a shootout. The shootout rule was implemented in the off-season to avoid tie games.
Player of the game: Icecats goalie Luke Edwall had 34 saves.
Highlight reel: Tony Biffignani scored the second and final shootout goal for Arizona State.
By the numbers: 60. The number of shots on goal for the Icecats.
He said it: "This is 11-degree ice. We are supposed to be playing on 32-degree ice. That is completely ridiculous. We are a big customer." — Icecats coach Leo Golembiewski
