OMAHA, Neb. – For 59 minutes, the Miami hockey team played a nearly perfect road game. While No. 18 Omaha rallied back from a 3-1 deficit, MU managed to secure two of three points in an eventual 3-3.
The RedHawks secured the extra point thanks to a
Ryan Savage goal during the 3-on-3 overtime frame.
Omaha drew first blood as Miami was unable to get the puck past the blue line and Nolan Sullivan was fed alone in front for a goal 3:28 into the contest. The Mavericks registered the first three shots on goal and hit a post over the first seven minutes and change.
MU finally got an opportunity to go on the attack when it went on a power play at the 7:57 mark. After an initial couple clears by Omaha, Miami managed to control in the zone and work around the outside. The high motion left an open
Casey Gilling on the inside of the left circle, where he wristed home his second goal of the year on helpers from
Gordie Green and Savage with 10:58 to go in the opening stanza.
The Mavericks got a power play opportunity of their own midway through the first, but the RedHawks kept them to the outside and
Grant Valentine made a couple stops to leave it tied up. Shots were 7-1 Omaha in the late stages of the period before a strong cycle by Miami broke the tie.
Phil Knies skated the puck around the net and found Savage in a soft spot in the slot for a one-timer that found net for his third goal of the year.
Karch Bachman also picked up a helper as the Red and White took a 2-1 lead with 5:29 left in the first.
Omaha went on another power play shortly after the Savage tally, but Miami used a strong stop by Valentine and some clears to keep its one-goal lead intact after 20 minutes.
After getting outshot 9-5 in the opening 20 minutes, Miami flipped things with an 11-6 spread in the second. MU got more effective as the period wore on and went on its second power play of the evening with 10:36 on the clock. Savage and Green both had good looks at the net, but Isaiah Saville managed to keep the puck out. The Red & White got another extended power play when the Mavericks took a major power play with over five minutes remaining, but they were unable to extend their lead as the score remained 2-1 following the second period.
On the first shift of the third, Miami got a great transition chance as
Derek Daschke was fed in front of the goal, but a defenseman blocked his bid and the puck went wide.
Miami continued to defend well, frustrating Omaha in the neutral zone and forcing turnovers. The RedHawks again nearly added to their lead about seven minutes in when
Scott Corbett came down the wing and used a defenseman as a screen to fire a shot that hit the post. With under nine to play, Bachman got a step on the defense for a partial breakaway, but his bid went wide.
The RedHawks used their transition game to add some breathing room as
Ryan Savage waited out the defense and found a late rushing
Alec Mahalak skating down the right wing. Mahalak wristed one past Saville for his first goal of the season to hand MU a 3-1 lead with 4:51 to go. This came shortly after a strong Valentine save to keep UNO from tying it up.
Omaha pulled Saville for an extra attacker with over three minutes left and appeared to pull within 3-2 with 2:44 remaining. Officials looked at the play and determined there was goaltender interference, so the lead remained at 3-1.
The Mavericks continued to press for offense and Zach Jordan scored from in close to make it a 3-2 game with 52.7 seconds on the clock. On the ensuing faceoff, Miami did manage to hem the puck in the offensive end for a bit, but Omaha was able to eventually get down the ice and Kevin Conly scored from a sharp angle with under 10 seconds left to tie it up at 3-3.
Omaha pressed for offense in the initial moments of the overtime period, but nothing came of the attack. Miami had a couple bids down the stretch of the frame, but likewise couldn't find a winning tally as the game went in the books as a 3-3 tie and the teams played into the 3-on-3 overtime period.
It took 15 seconds for Miami to draw a penalty and go on a 4-on-3 power play. Omaha had the first chance however as Chayse Primeau intercepted a pass and skated in for a breakaway that Valentine shrugged aside. Eventually the puck got to the front of the net where Savage jammed home a tally to hand MU two NCHC points.
Omaha outshot Miami 27-22 on the evening overall. MU connected on 1-of-3 power plays while killing off both UNO man advantages. Savage contributed to all three of the RedHawks' official goals with a goal and two assists while netting the 3-on-3 winner and Bachman dished out two assists for a multi-point game. In his first career start, Valentine stopped 24 of 27 shots.
These teams wrap up their weekend series on Saturday night. Opening faceoff is at 8:07 p.m.
