Miami University
Lake Superior State
Zatkoff, RedHawks Sink Lakers with Shutout, Win 5-0
1/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Jan. 19, 2008
OXFORD - Miami completed its sweep of Lake Superior State Saturday night, putting the Lakers down by a 5-0 margin. Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff was solid once again for Miami, earning his first shutout of the season by stopping all 18 shots LSSU put on net. The shutout was Zatkoff's fifth-career shutout. Zatkoff was named the game's first star for his efforts.
Freshman forward Carter Camper watched his point streak climb to 10 games, as he scored once and assisted on another goal. Camper has scored seven times during the course of his streak.
Senior captain Ryan Jones extended his goal streak to three games with a first period tally, his fifth during the first 20 minutes of a game this year. Jones leads all Hobey Baker Nominees in fan balloting, earning 30 percent of all votes cast.
On just the team's second shot, junior defenseman Alec Martinez started the Miami scoring at the 1:16 mark of the first period, as he was able to sneak deep into the offensive zone and wrist a shot past Lakers' goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson. The goal gave Martinez the outright lead for most goals by a defenseman in the nation.
Less than three minutes later, Ryan Jones netted his third goal in three games, extending the Miami lead to 2-0. For Jones, the goal was his 21st score of they year, giving him three consecutive seasons of more than 20 scores. Assisting on the goal was Martinez, earning him his fifth multi-point game of the season.
Senior forward Nino Musitelli pushed the RedHawks' lead to three goals, as he wired a wrist shot over the glove hand of Mahoney-Wilson. The score was Musitelli's sixth of the season, and his first since November 10, in Miami's 3-1 victory over Notre Dame.
Freshman forward Pat Cannone opened the third period by scoring his third goal of the season, giving the Red and White a 4-0 lead over LSSU. Cannone is third in the CCHA in scoring by a rookie, with 23 points.
Carter Camper netted the team's fifth goal of the evening, this coming with the man-advantage. For Miami, it was the team's second power play goal of the contest. The RedHawks are 20-1 when potting at least one power play tally in a game.
The RedHawks will now make the trek to Fairbanks, Alaska, for two games with the Nanooks. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, Miami and Alaska split the series at Steve Cady Arena. Both Friday and Saturday night's game are set for an 11:05 ET start.
NOTES:
Freshman Carter Camper extended his point streak to 10 games with an assist on Alec Martinez's first-period goal and a third period score of his own. Camper has scored seven goals and assisted on nine others, giving him 15 points over that span.
Junior defenseman Alec Martinez leads the nation in both goals scored by a defenseman (7) and points by a blue liner (22).
Miami has swept nine of its 11 weekend series this year, including six-of-nine in CCHA contests.
By allowing only one goal in the weekend sweep of Lake Superior State, Miami matched the least amount of goals it has given up in a series this year (One goal - Canisius, Nov. 23-24).
The RedHawks own a perfect 16-0 record when the team scores the first goal of the game.
With 89 points to its credit as a class, the Miami freshmen have accounted for 29.5 percent of the team's points scored (89 of 302).
QUOTES:
COACH RICO BLASI "We wanted to try to come out and score early to get them out of their game plan. I thought the guys did a nice job of that. They had good energy in the first, played pretty well in the second, and the third was a little bit back and forth. We did a good job all weekend long."
(On preparing for Miami's series at Alaska next weekend) "It's a tough week as far as travel is concerned. We'll get three good practices in before we leave so that the guys are focused on what they need to do."
Alec Martinez "We tried to work their `D' (defense) down low. The forwards did a great job keeping the pressure on them."
(On his goal) "I just tried to sneak down, back-door. Camper had a great look, he gave it to me, and I just tried to get the puck on the net.
Jeff Zatkoff: "I only faced 18 shots. My teammates did a great job of keeping the shots to the outside. Thank God I didn't screw up my shutout this time."
GAME'S THREE STARS: No. 3 - Alec Martinez No. 2 - Ryan Jones No. 1 - Jeff Zatkoff
ATTENDANCE: 3472
