OXFORD, Ohio – Grant Valentine made 26 saves in his first start in net for the Miami hockey team as it topped the USA National Team Development Program, 4-2, in exhibition play on Friday.
After trading goals for the first two periods,
Casey Gilling's power play goal with 7:11 remaining in the third gave the RedHawks the lead for good in the contest.
Early offensive pressure went the way of Miami in what was a penalty free first period. The RedHawks fired the first four shots on goal and
Ryan Savage got a later look on a 2-on-1 opportunity that he ripped wide.
Nearly halfway through the first period, an offensive zone faceoff saw the puck knocked around in traffic before
Noah Jordan ripped a turnaround shot that surprised Drew Commesso and slid in five-hole to make it a 1-0 Miami lead at the 9:27 mark.
Ryan Savage and
Scott Corbett drew assists on the play. USA did get a few transition looks as the period wore on, but couldn't capitalize as Valentine made six first period saves to keep MU on top by a 1-0 count at intermission.
The USANTDP managed to tilt the ice more in its favor in the second period, outshooting Miami by a 13-3 margin. It took 2:09 after the intermission for USA to even the score as Hunter Strand swatted in a puck after he was hauled down.
After no penalties were assessed in the first period, the teams combined for eight power plays in the second as eight minor penalties were called. One USA power play was particularly threatening, but Valentine made a couple big stops to keep the score tied.
The RedHawks used their special teams to regain the lead with 5:19 to go in the frame when
Ryan Savage redirected home a point shot by
Derek Daschke, who was fed by
Casey Gilling, to make it a 2-1 contest.
A USA power play late in the period evened the score when Brock Faber found a seam and went coast-to-coast and scored in front of the net with 3:11 to go, leaving the score tied through two periods.
Play was a little more controlled in the third period as most of the frame was spent at 5-on-5. Neither team was getting much offense until a USA penalty with 8:40 left gave Miami the lone power play of the frame. The RedHawks capitalized with their opportunity as after a
Gordie Green shot hit some bodies, the puck came free at the doorstep for Gilling, who jammed in the puck to make it a 3-2 contest with 7:11 to go.
USA came the other way with a flurry after the goal, getting six more shots on frame the rest of the way. Its best opportunity came when Brett Berard got sprung for a breakaway, but Valentine shut the door to leave it a 3-2 contest.
With under two minutes left, the USANTDP pulled the goalie for an extra skater, but the RedHawks dug the puck out of the corner and
Alec Capstick sprung
Karch Bachman down the wing and the senior forward buried the empty net goal to seal the win.
USA finished with a 28-23 shot advantage, though Miami had the shot advantage in two of the three periods. The Red & White went 2-for-4 on the power play while USA was 1-for-5 on the man advantage. Savage led the offense with three points on a goal and two assists while Gilling had a goal and an assist for a multi-point night. Valentine finished with 26 saves for the RedHawks.
Miami opens National Collegiate Hockey Conference play on Nov. 8 when it begins a series at North Dakota. Opening faceoff is at 8:37 p.m. ET.
