A 3rd loss to Kent over 10 days
Mullen drops Saturday game to Kent Denver, 3rd setback in a row to Sun Devils.
The confounding stretch for Mullen ice hockey continued on Saturday night.
In capping a 10-day, three-game segment against the Sun Devils, a product of the new Season B during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Mustangs fell again, 4-3 at Big Bear Ice Arena.
It was basically another variation of the previous two games – while Mullen (4-3 overall) didn’t lead as much as in the two previous games, its dominance in particular areas that ordinarily would be enough to win other games, was overridden.
Consider – Mullen outshot Kent Denver 138-68 over the three games, yet was outscored by an aggregate 12-7. The Mustangs also were 0-for-18 on the power play, didn’t protect any leads and paid heavily for their penalties.
On Saturday, Mullen, still bidding for at least the at-large berth to what will be an abbreviated playoff field for Class 4A, grabbed a 2-0 lead on goals by Nick Gilbert and Hayden Klem.
However, as they have done throughout this stretch, the Sun Devils responded in the second period. They went for four goals, including a hat trick by a player who also assisted on the fourth goal, and held off the Mustangs.
Robby Witwer’s goal in the second couldn’t fend off Kent Denver.
The Mustangs also owned a 15-5 edge in shots in the third, but never found the back of the net.
Aidan Cashman, Klem, Larry Simons and Witwer had assists for Mullen.
Mullen will resume action on Monday, March 1, against Air Academy at Sertich Arena in Colorado Springs, 2:45 p.m.
KENT DENVER 4, MULLEN 3
Mullen 2 1 0 – 3
Kent Denver 0 4 0 – 4
SCORING
First period – 1, Mullen, Nick Gilbert (Robby Witwer, Aidan Cashman), 3:34; 2, Mullen, Hayden Klem (Larry Simons), 4:31.
Second period – 3, Kent Denver, Sam Choi, pp (Barrett Oxenreider, Jack Dormich), 6:30; 4, Kent Denver, Sam Choi, pp (Anderson Toler, 7:13; 5, Mullen, Robby Witwer (Hayden Klem), 8:08; 6, Kent Denver, Barrett Oxenreider (Sam Choi, Anderson Toler), 11:38; 7, Kent Denver, Sam Choi (unassisted), 15:06.
Third Period – None.
Shots – Mullen 11-12-15 – 38; Kent Denver 7-13-15 – 25.
Penalties – Mullen 39 minutes on 10 infractions; Kent Denver 14 minutes on seven infractions.
Power plays – Mullen 0-for-6; Kent Denver 2-for-7.
Saves – Logan Clouthier, Mullen, 21; Cedric Choi, Kent Denver, 35.
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