Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University
2-6-0
Denver
3-5-0
RedHawks Stun No. 8/7 Denver with Shutout, 3-0
12/17/2020 11:27:00 PM | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. — The Miami University ice hockey team scored three unanswered goals in the second and third periods as they upset the No. 8/7 Denver Pioneers, 3-0, on Thursday night at Baxter Arena.
Freshman goaltender Ludvig Persson kept the Redhawks locked in the contest until the very end, making crucial saves to keep the dynamic Pioneer offense quiet all game. Persson made 26 saves in the net and gave Denver their first shutout loss on the season. Persson, the current NCHC Goaltender of the Week, got the second win of his young career and his second career shutout.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- 0:40 2nd (Miami 1-0) | Ryan Savage was fighting for the puck along the boards in Miami's offensive zone and found Andrew Sinard at the blue line. Sinard saw Robby Drazner on the opposite side of him, and Drazner fired the puck in from the blue line, right over the blocker. Drazner's goal, the game-opener against the nationally-ranked Pioneers, was his first career goal.
- 7:13 3rd (Miami 2-0) | Denver got the puck from their goaltender after a save, but the Pioneers turned the puck over, and allowed MU to go on a transition attack. The puck got on the stick of Ben Lown, where he was able to find Matt Barry in front, and Barry got it past Chrona to extend the Miami lead to two. Barry's goal was his first of the season and the eighth of his career. Phil Knies was credited with the secondary assist on the play for his first point on the season.
- 18:27 3rd (Miami 3-0) | Denver managed to pull Chrona for an extra skater, but its attempt to set up in the offensive zone was stymied by the Miami defense. Knies and Lown continued to add to the score sheet, and Lown found Knies towards an open Denver net, and the senior captain skated in all alone for an empty net goal to put the game away with a minute and a half remaining.
GAME NOTES:
- The Mavericks outshot Miami on the night by a narrow 26-22 tally. For the RedHawks, Knies, Barry, Monte Graham, and Hampus Rydqvist all had three individual shots on goal each.
- With the win over the Pioneers, the RedHawks get another one in the win column and continue the season with a 2-6-0 on the season so far.
- The RedHawks had the advantage in blocked shots, as they blocked 16 as a team.
- With his 26 saves, Persson's save percentage (.958, 5th) and goals-against average (1.26, 7th) are now both ranked in the top-10 nationally.
- Miami went 29-for-47 on face-offs on the night.
- Miami's penalty kill unit killed both penalties.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The RedHawks continue the adventures in the NCHC Pod with a conference game on Friday, December 19. Puck drop for the game against the Colorado College Tigers is scheduled for a 9:05 p.m. (ET) start at Baxter Arena.
The 2020-21 Miami ice hockey season is proudly sponsored by Kroger and Cintas.
