Dec. 10, 2011

Box Score | Notes
Video Highlights | Postgame Press Conference

By Chris Rydburg

OXFORD, Ohio - In a back-and-forth affair, No. 4 Ohio State edged Miami's hockey team, 3-2, in overtime at Steve Cady Arena on Saturday night, as the RedHawks wrapped up the 2011 portion of their schedule. Miami (9-9-2, 5-7-2-1 CCHA) was unable to complete the home-and-home sweep of the first-place Buckeyes (13-4-1, 10-3-1-1 CCHA), as OSU rallied twice from a goal down Saturday after the `Hawks ended Ohio State's nine-game winning streak Friday with a 5-3 victory in Columbus.

Ohio State netminder Brady Hjelle made 37 saves in just his third start and fourth game of the year while Miami senior goaltender Cody Reichard was also strong in net, making a career-high 35 saves. The RedHawks finished with a slight, 39-38, edge in shots on goal while going 1-for-3 on the power play. Miami was a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill but just as the `Hawks killed a penalty in overtime the Buckeyes scored the game-winning goal off the stick of Chad Niddery with 2:22 left in overtime.

"Obviously you want a different result tonight going into the long break, but you have to put this game behind you and focus on the second half of the season," senior tri-captain Alden Hirschfeld said. "We are going to take some time to relax with family and come back ready to work."

The first period saw many scoring chances as both teams played inspired hockey in the early going but neither side found the back of the net despite OSU holding a 16-10 edge in shots. Miami finally broke the scoreless contest when junior Curtis McKenzie capitalized on a Buckeye turnover at the blue line to give the `Hawks a 1-0 lead at 11:14 of the second period. McKenzie poked the puck away from Curtis Gedig at the blue line as he tried to clear the zone. He then skated in alone and took a wrist shot that was blocked by Hjelle but the rebound came right back to McKenzie, who tapped it in for the lead and his fourth goal of the year.

The lead did not last long however, as the Buckeyes scored the equalizer 1:44 later when Tanner Fritz scored his second of the season. Nick Oddo took a shot from just inside the blue line, but Reichard was able to make the initial save. The rebound popped out to Fritz however, as he roofed the puck to tie the game at 1-1. Sean Duddy also had an assist on the play.

The `Hawks were able to regain the lead when Miami took advantage of a power play in third period after Oddo was called for a five-minute major and a game misconduct for contact to the head. Junior forward Reilly Smith took a cross ice feed from freshman forward Jimmy Mullin before one-timing the puck into the top right corner for a 2-1 lead with 11:39 left in regulation. The goal was Smith's team-best 12th on the year.

Ohio State again had an answer just over two minutes later, knotting the game at 2-2 with 9:28 still on the clock. Danny Dries made a pass from Reichard's right to Devon Krogh between the circles. Krogh sent in a blast that was saved but the rebound dropped to Reichard's left and Dries skated to the other side to stick home the loose puck before a pileup in front of the cage.

Despite outshooting the Buckeyes 15-7 in the final frame, the RedHawks were unable to recapture the lead, sending the game to overtime, Miami's fifth extra-session game of the year. Senior defenseman Chris Wideman was called for a high stick early in the overtime and just as it ended OSU tallied the game-winner. Alex Carlson won a draw to Reichard's right and sent a shot on goal that was stopped but Niddery was left alone to bury the rebound and give Ohio State a 3-2 win as Wideman had just stepped out of the box after the faceoff.

"We definitely have to be a lot more disciplined in our play, and that is our number one priority," head coach Enrico Blasi said of Miami's seven penalties Saturday, including the one in overtime.

Miami fell to 0-3-2 in overtime contests this season, with all three losses coming by a score of 3-2.

The RedHawks are now off for the next several weeks and return to action after the holiday break with a two-game series at No. 14 Michigan State Jan. 6-7 in a CCHA showdown in East Lansing, Mich.