Miami University
Alaska
Zatkoff Blanks Nanooks, RedHawks Win 2-0
1/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Jan. 26, 2008
FAIRBANKS, AK - Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff stopped everything thrown in his direction, kicking aside all 24 shots that Alaska put on the Miami net, notching his second consecutive shutout. Zatkoff has not given up a goal in his last 176:03 of action, marking the longest streak of his career without giving up a goal.
With Michigan losing to Michigan State earlier in the evening, Miami now owns sole-possession of first place in the CCHA.
Junior forward Justin Mercier scored his 19th tally of the year, tying him with Bowling Green's Derek Whitmore and Colorado College's Chad Rau for third most in the nation. Mercier has five points in his last six games, scoring four times over that span.
After going through the first period without a goal, Justin Mercier broke the scoreless tie 1:29 into the second stanza after he stole a puck from Nanooks' defenseman Jeff Penner and whistled a shot over the glove-hand of Alaska netminder Wylie Rogers. Mercier is tied with four others for the second most game-winning goals in the nation with five.
Senior forward Nino Musitelli extended the MU lead to 2-0 with eight minutes remaining in the third period, as he skated down the right side of the ice, went in undefended on Rogers and put the shot past his right pad. Musitelli now has seven goals for the season, and has scored two goals in as many games.
Zatkoff was tested heavily in the last five minutes, stopping a flurry of five shots in a 45 second span, solidifying his second shutout of the season and 24th victory for the RedHawks during the 2007-08 campaign. With the shutout, he lowered his nation-leading goals-against average to 1.48 goals-against, and is second in the country with a .938 save percentage.
Miami and Alaska will do battle once more before the team travels back to Ohio. Saturday's face off is set for 7:05 p.m. locally, and 11:05 p.m. in Oxford.
NOTES:
The RedHawks' junior class leads the team in goals by a single class, netting 37 percent of the team's scores this year (42-of-116).
With Friday night's victory, the current Miami senior class won its 89th game, becoming the winningest class in school history, passing the 2006 graduating class who had 88 victories.
By assisting on Nino Musitelli's third period goal, junior defenseman Alec Martinez regained his lead as the nation's top scoring blue-liner, with 23 points to his credit.
Miami and Alaska combined for only 10 minutes in penalties Friday night, the fewest for a game the RedHawks skated in this season.
The Red and White own the nation's second longest winning streak (six games) behind only Union (seven).
GAME'S THREE STARS: No. 3 - Justin Mercier No. 2 - Nino Musitelli No. 1 - Jeff Zatkoff
ATTENDANCE: 3034
