Jan. 7, 2012

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Senior goalie Connor Knapp stopped all 20 shots that came his way while the Miami hockey team poured in three third-period goals to pull away from No. 15 Michigan State for a 4-0 win Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena, completing a weekend sweep. With the 2-1 overtime win over the Spartans (11-9-2, 6-7-1-1 CCHA) Friday, Miami (11-9-2, 7-7-2-1 CCHA) earned its second sweep of the year with the other coming at Alaska Nov. 4-5 while it was the RedHawks' first sweep of MSU since Nov. 14-15, 2008, also in East Lansing.

The shutout was Miami's second of the season, blanking Bowling Green, 4-0, Nov. 18, and the ninth clean sheet of Knapp's career but first this year as classmate Cody Reichard shut out the Falcons. The Spartans were blanked for the first time all year, as well. Offensively, senior forward Alden Hirschfeld and freshman forward Blake Coleman each had a goal and an assist while senior defenseman Cameron Schilling dished out a pair of helpers.

For the second straight night, the RedHawks' penalty kill was unbeatable as they were a perfect 8-for-8 a man down, which was a season high for kills without allowing a power play goal. Miami finished 13-for-13 on the weekend a man down while going 1-for-6 on its own power play Saturday night. Despite being called for 11 penalties, the `Hawks fired a season-high 44 shots on goal.

The opening period was full of penalties and lacked any scoring. Miami was whistled for seven penalties in the first 20 minutes resulting in four Michigan State power plays but the `Hawks were able to kill off each one, tying a single-period season high. The Spartans were called for four penalties but Miami received just one power play, however the `Hawks still held a 9-8 edge in shots in the period.

Junior forward Reilly Smith broke the scoreless deadlock 10:17 into the second stanza with his team-leading 13th goal of the year on a 5-on-3 power play. Senior defenseman Chris Wideman crossed to Schilling, who fired in a shot from the blue line. His initial attempt was blocked but Smith was in the circle to the left of MSU goalie Will Yanakeff to bury the rebound for a 1-0 RedHawk lead.

Just 55 seconds into the third period, Miami doubled its advantage when freshman forward Tyler Biggs notched his fourth goal of the year. Schilling took a pass from sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo and fired a wrister at Yanakeff from the circle to his right. Schilling's shot was saved but the rebound went to the far side where Biggs went top-shelf from a sharp angle to make it 2-0.

The RedHawks then added to their lead 8:12 into the final frame when Hirschfeld scored his sixth goal of the season. Junior forward Curtis McKenzie and Coleman worked to center the puck to Hirschfeld in the slot where he beat Yanakeff over his shoulder for a 3-0 Miami advantage. The `Hawks then capped their scoring with 1:20 remaining in the game when Hirschfeld returned the favor to Coleman. As Hirschfeld was skating off for a line change, he passed up to Coleman, who skated in and fired a wrister from just inside the blue line. Yanakeff, who ended with 40 saves, slowed the shot but the puck squeaked through his legs and Coleman put home his own rebound in the crease for his seventh tally this year.

The RedHawks remain on the road next weekend as they return to the state of Michigan for a two-game CCHA series at No. 18 Lake Superior State in Sault Ste. Marie Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14. The Lakers swept Miami in Oxford Oct. 27-28.