Dec. 30, 2007
Box Score
COLUMBUS - For the second time in three years, Miami won the Ohio Hockey Classic by taking down Ohio State, this time by a score of 3-2. With the victory, Miami accomplished a major milestone in school history, winning its 500th game.
Sophomore Jarod Palmer, backed by two goals, an assist and a plus-three rating over the two games, was named the most valuable player of the tournament.
Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff was solid in the Miami net once again, stopping 25-of-27 shots. By giving up only three goals in the tournament on 53 shots, Zatkoff was named to the All-Tournament team.
The posts played a big role in Sunday night's victory, as the RedHawks hit four pipes throughout the course of the game.
Senior captain Ryan Jones put the RedHawks on the board first, as he scored his 17th goal of the season while MU was on the power play. The score was the team's first power play goal since it scored with the man advantage in the first game of the Alaska series (December 7).
Ohio State answered back quickly, as Kyle Reed netted his fifth goal of the season 1:07 after Jones' marker.
Jarod Palmer unknotted the affair at the 14:33 mark of the first period, as he found the back of the net while Miami was a man down. Palmer has scored eight points during his four game point streak.
The Buckeyes tied the game once again only 2:08 into the second stanza, when freshman John Albert took a one-time shot from the slot and wristed the puck past Jeff Zatkoff.
Palmer showed great penalty killing ability, as he made a diving defensive play half way through the third period, throwing his body in front of an open net and blocking a would-be goal, keeping the contest tied at two goals apiece.
With just 1:38 remaining in the game, sophomore forward Gary Steffes sealed the victory for Miami when he took a shot that deflected off the stick of a Buckeyes' defenseman and fluttered over the shoulder of OSU netminder Dustin Carlson. By scoring the game-winner, Steffes took first-star honors.
The RedHawks head north January 4-5, to take on the Falcons of Bowling Green in the team's first CCHA series in nearly a month.
NOTES:
Miami's first period shorthanded goal was the RedHawks sixth tally while down a man on the year, tying the team with three others for second in the nation.
Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff has yet to give up more than two goals in any of the 16 games he's played in.
The RedHawks have extended their winning streak away from Steve Cady Arena to nine games (Road: 7-0; Neutral: 2-0).
After adding two assists in the Ohio Hockey Classic, forward Carter Camper now has 21 points, which ranks second behind only Michigan's Aaron Palushaj (22) in scoring by a CCHA rookie.
GAME'S THREE STARS: No. 3 - Kyle Reed No. 2 - Jarod Palmer No. 1 - Gary Steffes
ATTENDANCE: 4087
