KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- For the sixth time this season, Miami needed overtime to decide a game. And three times in the last four contests, an extra five minutes didn't settle it. But after a 1-1 tie at Western Michigan Saturday, Miami gained an extra point in the CCHA standings with a 2-1 shootout win.
Jarod Palmer and Carter Camper converted their shootout attempts and Connor Knapp stopped two Bronco tries, ending a string of three straight shootout losses dating back to last year, including a pair to Ferris State last weekend.
With the win Miami improves to 9-1-4 overall and 6-1-3-1 in the CCHA and moves two points ahead of Michigan State in the conference standings. The RedHawks are unbeaten in eight straight games.
Miami registered a season-high 43 shots, including 23 in the second period, but the RedHawks could only manage a single goal off Riley Gill.
After a scoreless first period, Carter Camper opened the scoring with his first goal since Oct. 16 at New Hampshire, a span of 10 games. He stole the puck in between the circles, made a move across the goal and buried the back-hander unassisted at 2:14 of the second.
Western Michigan took advantage of a Miami miscue at the 13:49 mark. The RedHawks had possession in their own end, but a pass was tipped away and Derek Roehl got enough of a stick on the puck to ease it past Knapp.
In the opening stanza, Western Michigan nearly matched its Friday night shot total of 15 with 12 attempts, while Miami registered 11 shots.
Each team was unsuccessful on four power plays, extending Miami's streak to 31 of 32 kills over the last five-plus periods.
In the shootout, Palmer made a back-hander, before Knapp stopped Max Campbell. Camper swept his attempt under the pads, putting Miami up 2-0. But Greg Squires made his try and Andy Miele's went over the cross bar, setting up Knapp to make the final save. He took J.J. Crew's attempt under his pads and after a close look from the referee, kept the puck short of the goal line.
"It was a good game and both teams had good efforts," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "We had our chances, but just couldn't bury some shots. The goaltender was solid tonight."
Miami steps out of conference play next weekend when it competes at the Subway Holiday Classic in Grand Forks, N.D. The RedHawks face Bemidji State on Friday in a rematch of the 2009 National Semifinal game, then play host North Dakota on Saturday.