It’s been a bounce-back year so far for coach Al Murdoch and the Cyclone hockey team.

Having yet to be swept this season after suffering back-to-back sweeps early last season, Iowa State (11-1-1-1) now hits the road for the first time. The team will travel to Tempe, Ariz., for a weekend series against Arizona State.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said forward David Kurbatsky. “I love playing against them. It’s always great competition and I’m excited to go down there.”

The Sun Devils (11-1-1) are currently one of the top-ranked teams in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Last year, they came to Ames and swept Iowa State.

Much of the sweep was due to the lack of production from the Cyclone power play. Iowa State blanked on eight shot attempts with the man advantage.

This year, the Cyclones are determined to reverse the fortunes.

“I don’t know about revenge, but definitely we want to beat them and I think there might be a little bit of an extra pep in our step to beat them,” said goalie Paul Karus.

Karus started the finale of last year’s series against the Sun Devils, allowing four goals before being pulled after two periods.

Murdoch said Arizona State’s success is linked to back-to-back good recruiting years. Like his team, Arizona State has some talented rookies who are contributing to a good start to the year.

“We’ll have our hands full,” Murdoch said. “Any team that sweeps us, we want to even the score.”

Like any team, Arizona State has weaknesses. In two losses at home, it allowed goals in the third period, including the game-winner against defending champion Lindenwood.

Murdoch said that is something the coaching staff has noticed and may try to capitalize on if his team is close in the third.

“[Arizona State] plays more motivated at home, but [they] have allowed teams to get back into it late in the third period,” Murdoch said. “I’d like to be within one or two goals through the midpoint of the third.”

To do that, Murdoch said the Cyclones need consistency through the entire game. Kurbatsky said guys are battling, but sometimes have difficulties putting together 60 minutes of solid hockey.

“I think one key is playing more consistently,” Kurbatsky said. “I feel like maybe some periods we’ll come out good and another period, for some reason, the momentum is not there.”

The Sun Devils will provide the Cyclones with a good test this weekend. After a tough series against a ranked opponent last week in Illinois, Iowa State now must venture away from Ames and visit a Sun Devil team coming off a split against Central Oklahoma.

Murdoch said his players have the confidence to succeed in any environment.

“They got a little bit of a swagger this week,” Murdoch said. “We want that. We don’t want them to be cocky, but just want them to have a little bit of a swagger.”

Karus said “swagger” might be a bit much, but sees the drive to succeed in his teammates.

“You can call it confidence too,” Karus said. “I think we’re getting more and more confidence every week no matter win or loss. The team is learning and we’re just getting that extra edge every single weekend.”

Iowa State flew down Thursday night and will get a morning skate in before the first of two in Tempe gets underway Friday at 10 p.m. Central time.