Feb. 19, 2010
Box Score
By Drew Davis
OXFORD, Ohio - No. 1 Miami extended its winning streak to eight with a 6-2 victory over Nebraska-Omaha Friday night at Steve Cady Arena at the Goggin Ice Center. The 2010 CCHA Champion RedHawks are unbeaten in a school-record 11 straight games overall and 23 straight in CCHA play.
The Mavericks (16-13-6, 12-12-3-2 CCHA) hung with Miami through the first period, but a barrage of goals in the second and third periods allowed the RedHawks (23-4-6, 20-1-4-2 CCHA) to pull away. Jarod Palmer scored the first goal of the game and added assists on Miami's fourth and fifth goals to lead the way for Miami. Alex Hudson tallied both of UNO scores.
Miami got on the board first, scoring at 1:41 of the first period, the fastest the RedHawks have scored after the opening faceoff all year. Palmer took a pass from Vincent LoVerde and fired it past Nebraska-Omaha goaltender John Faulkner. The goal was Palmer's team-leading 15th of the season.
"I think our team this year is doing a really good job of moving the puck and I'm getting a lot of nice passes on the tape with my feet moving and that gives me the chance to make things happen," Palmer said. "I've also got a couple of linemates, Reilly Smith and Andy Miele, who are setting me up every game. I've never had so many opportunities in my life, and the more opportunities you get, the more you're going to put in the net."
The Mavericks tied it at 1-1 at 9:17 of the period when they were able to make a steal in neutral ice and transition into a fast break, where Hudson beat Miami goalie Cody Reichard glove-side.
The RedHawks quickly retook the lead at 11:49 on Brandon Smith's third goal in the last two games. Steve Mason took a pass from Devin Mantha and fired a shot on goal. The puck caromed off Faulkner's right pad directly to Smith who made a quick move and shot a wrister into the back of the net.
At 14:21 of the first period, a Miami penalty to Carter Camper while Curtis McKenzie was already in the box gave UNO a 5-on-3 opportunity. The RedHawks killed over a minute of the two-man disadvantage, but couldn't clear the puck and Hudson was able to convert to even the score at 2-2 at 15:26 of the opening frame.
The RedHawks scored the game-winner at 4:53 of the second period. With Justin Vaive setting a screen in front of the net, Cameron Schilling fired a slap shot on goal from the top of the left circle. Vaive got his stick on it at the last second to tap it up, past Faulkner and into the net. Joe Hartman earned the second assist.
Miami got an insurance goal on the power play at 13:11 of the second period. Hartman sent a pass down to Will Weber on the left side of the net and the sophomore centered to Pat Cannone for a one-timer.
The RedHawks continued to pour it on when Reilly Smith added a goal at 4:25 of the third period. The freshman took a pass right in front of the net and took a shot. Faulkner initially made the stop, but Smith stuck with it and managed to poke it past the goalie to put the RedHawks ahead 5-2. Palmer and Camper earned assists on the play.
Trent Vogelhuber added the empty netter on a penalty kill at 19:16 after he made a steal close to his own blue line and sent a shot the length of the ice.
Miami kept up the intensity rather than suffering a letdown a week after clinching the CCHA regular season championship because, according to head coach Enrico Blasi, the team has remained focused.
"This team is focused on just one day at a time," Blasi said. "You go out there and play hard and you leave it all on the ice. It's going to be really hard if you take some weeks off and try to turn it on again. You gotta keep the pressure on and keep working hard and their doing that."
The RedHawks and Mavericks meet again Saturday night at 7:05 at Steve Cady Arena in the series finale.
