LAS VEGAS — UNLV took 61 shots against San Diego State on Friday and needed a third-period comeback to escape with a 3-2 win. A night later, the Skatin’ Rebels again controlled the puck, but this time they found teammates in the slot, moved it across the goalmouth and finished the chances they created. Deven Nagra scored three times, including twice on the power play, and UNLV completed the sweep with a 12-1 win Saturday at City National Arena.
Bryce Johnson added two goals, nine Rebels scored and UNLV improved to 4-0. The Rebels put 66 shots on Liam Dee, who stopped 23 of 24 in the first period before allowing 11 goals on 42 shots over the final two. The change was not simply volume. UNLV got the puck into areas where Dee had less time to react, and San Diego State struggled to stop the next chance after an initial pass or shot.
“We’re way simpler than last night,” Charles Masek told Kyle Sparrow during his second-intermission interview. “Last night, we were trying to overcomplicate things. Now we’re just getting pucks to the net, and good things are happening.”
That had been a concern after Friday’s opener. San Diego State covered shooting lanes and made UNLV work for clean looks despite the enormous shot advantage. Saturday began much the same way. Gaige Giblin scored at 5:16 of the first period after the puck came out from behind the net, with Mario DiMaggio and Ryder McIntosh credited with assists. UNLV generated 24 shots in the period but carried only a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Alex Lunski found Easton Edwards inside for a chance Dee stopped, and DiMaggio located Giblin moving through the slot for another opportunity. The Rebels recovered attempted clearances and kept possessions alive at the blue line, but possession alone was not getting them away from San Diego State.
“I think we have the chances and the opportunities,” Giblin said during the first intermission. “We’ve just got to start bearing down and being opportunistic and scoring.”
The separation arrived in the second period. Masek joined a rush through the middle, took a pass from Giblin and recovered a bobbled puck before lifting it into the net at 5:54. Dylan Gordon’s movement occupied a defender as the play developed. Instead of settling for a shot through an organized defensive front, Masek received the puck with room to attack the middle.
“Gage saw me high slot,” Masek said. “I made a move through one guy, and I kind of, I feel like I lost handle of it a little bit, but I regained it and just looked, shot it, and popped the water bottle.”
Lunski made it 3-0 at 8:47, taking Edwards’ pass near the crease and moving the puck before finishing. Johnson followed at 13:24 when Luke Backel worked the puck into the slot, allowing Johnson to shoot low past Dee. The goals came from different plays but created the same problem for San Diego State: UNLV was getting the puck inside the coverage before the goaltender could set himself.
Nagra made it 5-0 at 14:23 on a four-on-three power play. With room to move against three penalty killers, he advanced toward the circles and shot high into the net. The official scoring sheet credits Masek and Oliver Band with assists. It was Nagra’s first goal of the season and the first of three Saturday.
His next two goals showed a different side of the same scoring threat. Nagra carried the puck into the offensive zone and kept it rather than forcing a pass across the ice, beating Dee unassisted at 11:33 of the third. At 12:21, DiMaggio found him above the slot on another power play, and Nagra had time to look up and shoot before San Diego State closed. DiMaggio and Masek received the assists.
The hat trick gave UNLV scoring from its blue line as well as its forwards. Nagra had recorded two assists during the season-opening series at Arizona State, but his three goals Saturday came in distinct situations: with space on a four-on-three, off the rush and from above the slot on another power play. Those opportunities did not require him to remain in one shooting position.
UNLV was also moving the puck effectively around the crease. Masek set up McIntosh across the goalmouth for a one-timer at 4:16 of the third, with Gordon earning the secondary assist. Edwards later scored through traffic from near the top of the circles, Luke Baker finished a chance created by Zachary Boren, and Johnson moved the puck to his backhand after Edwards found him near the net.
Backel supplied the final goal with 40 seconds remaining. Giblin entered with speed and put a low shot on Dee, and Backel was ready near the net to finish the rebound. It was another example of UNLV turning the initial shot into a second opportunity before San Diego State could clear the puck.
Jimmy Mologousis had a different workload at the other end. In his first start for UNLV, he made 15 saves on 16 shots and allowed only a third-period power-play goal. San Diego State scored at 7:33 of the third when Zac Casinghino received a cross-ice pass and shot high through traffic. Braden Mayer and Brandon Grant earned the assists.
UNLV killed six of seven San Diego State power plays, with puck clears and blocked attempts helping interrupt the Aztecs’ possession. The Rebels also converted two of their six advantages. Mologousis joined Liam Choquette and Owen Zenone as winning UNLV goaltenders through the opening four games. Together, they have allowed four goals in 240 minutes, a 1.00 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage, although the shot workloads have varied considerably.
The penalties remain a concern. Lunski received a five-minute charging major and game misconduct at 13:35 of the second period. DiMaggio was assessed goalie interference, roughing and a 10-minute misconduct during a late third-period confrontation involving several players from both teams. Those penalties gave San Diego State additional attacking time in a game UNLV had already put away.
The Skatin’ Rebels have scored 23 goals and allowed four in their 4-0 start. They travel to AZ Ice Peoria to face Grand Canyon on October 16 and 17. Friday showed they could dominate possession without making the most of it. Saturday showed what happened when the passes reached the middle, players arrived at the crease and Nagra found room to shoot.
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