Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. - Minnesota Duluth struck for an early goal and the Miami hockey team was never able to find its legs in a 5-0 loss on Friday night.

The Bulldogs (14-14-5, 10-10-3-1 National Collegiate Hockey) clinched the fourth and final home ice advantage seed for next weekend's NCHC Playoffs. The RedHawks (15-15-3, 9-12-2-2 NCHC) are also locked in as the tournament's No. 5 seed and will return to Duluth for the best-of-three series.

UMD nearly capitalized on a turnover in the first couple minutes as a giveaway left Tony Cameranesi alone in front of the goal, where he went forehand to backhand for a shot that hit the crossbar. A video review on an ensuing whistle confirmed the call on the ice, but that whistle was a too many men on the ice penalty on the RedHawks that put them shorthanded just 1:45 into the contest. Miami managed to kill that penalty with little difficulty and the contest was still scoreless four minutes in.

A defensive zone faceoff loss led to a UMD goal as Adam Johnson's shot from the point was blocked and went right to Dominic Toninato, who was left alone atop the crease with a wide open net that he did not miss to make it 1-0 at the 5:05 mark. The RedHawks' best opportunity came nearly nine minutes in as good forechecking pressure by Jack Roslovic caused a turnover into the corner, where he fed Sean Kuraly between the circles for a shot that Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped to keep it a 1-0 contest.

Jay Williams was forced to make an outstanding save when a point feed got to the stick of Jared Thomas atop the crease. Thomas brought the puck on his backhand to the top of the paint and Williams stayed with him to make a pad stop. With 3:15 left in the frame, Miami got to go to work on the power play, though Kaskisuo made a couple stops to keep it Minnesota Duluth on top. MU was called for a penalty in the final minute of the frame, but the Toninato goal was the only shot that found the net in the first 20 minutes of play as UMD was outshot 11-7 in the opening 20 minutes.

Miami was able to kill off the remainder of the power play in the second despite Minnesota Duluth hitting another post during the man advantage. However, the Bulldogs made it 2-0 at the 3:19 mark when a turnover in the neutral zone sprung Kyle Osterberg with numbers down the left wing. After skating in close, Osterberg fed Brenden Kotyk coming in late down the right wing and he finished the backdoor feed to put the Bulldogs on top by a pair of goals.

The RedHawks had a chance to get back into it when Roslovic gathered a look puck near the goal line, but Kaskisuo recovered to keep it out. A pair of late penalties kept MU from going onto the attack in a period it only recorded five shots on goal. It appeared that UMD scored when Willie Raskob wristed a shot through traffic and in, but officials determined there was goaltender interference on the play and waived off the score as MU eventually killed off the man advantage. Another Miami penalty with 2:07 left did not end as favorably as a giveaway left Neal Pionk all alone in the slot, where he backhanded a shot past Williams to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes of play.

Chances were no easier to come by for Miami in the third period as it only registered four shots on goal. Eventually, the RedHawks put Evan McCarthy in goal for his first collegiate appearance to try and ignite a spark. However, it was UMD that added goals from Karson Kuhlman and Osterberg to finish with the shutout win.

The Bulldogs held a 27-20 advantage in shots on goal, a margin that was anchored by outshooting the RedHawks 20-9 in the final two periods. Miami did not score on its lone power play while Minnesota Duluth went 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Williams stopped 19 of 22 shots while McCarthy made three saves in the final 9:39.

Saturday's regular season finale starts at 8:07 p.m.