Box Score Dec. 8, 2017 Box Score | PDF Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- A 32-save performance by Ryan Larkin along with a strong start lifted the Miami hockey team to a 5-2 victory at No. 10/11 Western Michigan on Friday night.
Three RedHawks (8-7-2, 3-3-1-0 National Collegiate Hockey) contributed multiple points as they moved back to .500 in NCHC play.
"We played a good road game," head coach Enrico Blasi said. "We executed when we needed. Larkin played really well in net and our compete level was pretty good. Now we need to be ready to go tomorrow because they're going to push back."
The RedHawks' forecheck generated a couple quality chances early on as on the opening shift a turnover set up Rourke Russell in the slot, but his shot was redirected wide. Miami's next shift saw Kiefer Sherwood start some jamming in the crease by flinging a shot on net that led to some follow up close range shots, but Ben Blacker made the stops to keep it scoreless.
After MU jumped out to a 3-1 shot advantage, WMU perked up offensively and started controlling play in the offensive zone. The Broncos registered the next five shots on net, but Larkin was sharp in keeping them off the board.
Miami caught its breath and got back in the offensive zone to draw first blood with 7:47 left in the opening frame. Josh Melnick came out of the left wing corner with the puck and centered to Karch Bachman. While the pass to Bachman went off his skate, it deflected to Gordie Green below the left dot and the sophomore quickly fired one by Blacker to put the Red and White on top 1-0.
Western Michigan had a golden opportunity to tie it up, drawing two penalties 56 seconds apart on Miami to go on a two-man advantage with six minutes to go in the first. The RedHawks got some timely blocks and clears from their zone and ultimately only allowed on shot on goal to successfully kill off both minor penalties and maintain their lead. MU did get a late power play with 2:51 left in the first, but was unable to add to the lead. Nevertheless, it skated to the dressing room holding the 1-0 lead from Green's seventh tally of the year.
"It's a momentum swinger when you can kill off a 5-on-3," Blasi said. "I thought we did a really good job with that."
Miami got into penalty trouble early in the second as it fell shorthanded 49 seconds into the middle stanza. MU managed to kill off that man advantage, but another penalty at the 4:58 mark led to the Broncos answering as Wade Allison got into the middle and fired a shot by Larkin and Hugh McGing tapped in the rebound to even the score at 1-1 with 14:25 left in the middle period. Officials took another look to review the play, but ruled it a good goal.
A penalty on Western Michigan allowed Miami to answer shortly thereafter as Green found Melnick with a cross ice pass to the right circle and the junior pivot then fed Bachman for a tap in goal to put the Red & White on top 2-1 with 6:21 gone by in the second.
Leading once again, the RedHawks kept pressure on the Broncos and forced an errant pass in the neutral zone past the midway point of the period. Melnick pounced on the loose puck and gained the line. Using a defenseman as a screen, the junior buried a shot into the top corner to up the lead to 3-1 with 6:40 to go on his third point of the night.
The Broncos put on some pressure late in the period, but the RedHawks got strong play from Larkin in goal and chipped pucks out of the zone when the opportunities arose to maintain their two-goal lead through 40 minutes.
A late penalty in the second period left Miami with a carryover power play for 1:50, but Western Michigan killed that off with little pressure put on Blacker. However, Miami would not need a man advantage to pad its lead as Phil Knies took advantage of a lively bounce off the back wall after Chaz Switzer put the puck in deep and tipped one over Blacker and in to make it a 4-1 contest just 4:32 into the third. Ben Lown also drew an assist on Knies' third goal of the season.
A Bronco power play allowed them to pull back within two just 38 seconds later as Corey Schueneman one-timed a feed at the left circle and in to make it 4-2 on their second power play goal of the night.
Western Michigan continued to push the play to try and draw closer, but Miami was able to stymy the WMU attack in the offensive zone with key stops by Larkin and strong play at the blue line. The Broncos pulled their goalie for an extra skater with 2:09 left, but the RedHawks countered by clearing the zone and with 1:19 left, Green picked up a loose puck at the defensive blue line with some space, which he used to skate to the Bronco blue line and send home an empty netter, his second of the night to put the game away.
WMU finished with a 34-25 shot advantage and went 2-for-5 on the power play while MU finished 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Melnick (1g, 2a), Green (2g, 1a) and Bachman (1g, 1a) all notched multi-point games in the victory. Larkin made a season-high 32 saves while Blacker made 20 saves on 24 shots for WMU.
These teams wrap up their series on Saturday night. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
