Miami has tallied 17 of its 26 goals during the second period, including 14 of the 17 scored in road games.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Michigan leads the all-time series with Miami by a 68-20-3 count, including 43-3-1 in Ann Arbor. Last year, each team swept a weekend series as they were in the same scheduling cluster.
The complete series history can be found on page 116 of the fan guide, but here are the last four years (11 meetings):
12-2-05 W,4-2 H
12-3-05 W, 4-3 H
10-19-06 L, 6-3 A
10-20-06 W, 4-1 A
2-8-08 L, 4-2 H
2-9-08 T (ot), 5-5 H
3-22-08 L, 2-1 N1
11-21-08 W, 2-0 H
11-22-08 W, 2-1 H
1-9-09 L, 5-1 A
1-10-09 L, 4-0 A
N1 - CCHA Championship (Detroit, Mich.)
BLASI vs. THE WOLVERINES
Enrico Blasi holds a 6-20-1 career record against Michigan, including 1-13-0 in Ann Arbor. However, a majority of the losses took place at the beginning of his tenure -- Blasi started his career 0-10 against the Wolverines. The lone win came on Oct. 20, 2006 (4-1).
A 6-1-1 START
Miami's quick start to the season is the third-best in school history and ranks second among Enrico Blasi's 11 seasons. The RedHawks opened 2006-07 with eight straight wins enroute to a 14-1 start.
Miami opened 10-1 under head coach Mark Mazzoleni in 1997-98.
IN THE MIDDLE
Miami has scored 17 of its 26 goals this year during the second period of play. The RedHawks have three goals in the first, five in the second and one in overtime.
Miami's four goals in the second period Friday at Northern Michigan Friday also equalled a season high. The RedHawks tallied the same number in both games at New Hampshire.
The by-period scoring line for the four road games shows a much bigger imbalance: 3-14-0-0.
CLOSE CALLS
Miami has played five straight games that have either ended in a tie or with a one-goal differential. The season opener -- one of three overtime contests this year -- was also decided by a single tally.
Miami stands 4-1-1 this year in such contests, including 1-1-1 in overtime games. A year ago, the RedHawks were 0-2-5 in games that were tied after regulation and 6-7-0 in one-goal games.
PALMER PUSH
Senior Jarod Palmer became the 43rd member of Miami's 100-point club on Oct. 24 when he tied the game at 2-2 in the third period. He started the weekend with 98 points, but saw a four-game point streak end on Friday. Then, he assisted on the opening goal Saturday before putting a wrist shot past the MSU goaltender to reach the milestone.
Palmer is tied for the team lead in points with nine, while standing tied for first in goals (three). He also has a pair of game-winners.
An abbreviated listing of the 100-point club (full list is on page 127):
Player Games Points Year
1. Steve Morris 145 202 1979-83
2. Rick Kuraly 145 179 1979-83
3. Kevyn Adams 151 172 1992-96
4. Bill Bok 136 169 1978-82
5. Vern Sketchley 131 158 1978-82
---------------------------------------------------------------------
37. Randy Robitaille 75 106 1995-97
Greg Dornbach 110 106 1984-87
39. Andrew Miller 141 104 1991-95
Justin Mercier 157 104 2005-09
41. Jarod Palmer 131 101 2005-09
Pat Leahy 135 101 1997-01
Mitch Ganzak 153 101 2004-08
BREAK OUT THE BROOM
Miami earned its second weekend sweep of the season with 4-3 and 2-1 wins over Northern Michigan. Miami's last CCHA road sweep also came on the UP, at Lake Superior State last February. A year ago, the RedHawks posted a 2-0 record on seven different weekends.
IN GOAL
For the first time this season, Miami went away from its typical Friday-Saturday goaltender rotation. Cody Reichard opened both games at Northern Michigan, winning twice while registering 50 saves. Connor Knapp was a little under the weather but was on the bench on Saturday and available if needed.
SHOOTING GALLERY
Miami has outshot its opponents in seven of the eight contests this season, posting a 6-1-0 record in such contests. On Friday night, the RedHawks equalled their season high for shots in a period with 17 in the second, the same number turned in against Michigan State on Oct. 24.
Miami has reached double figures for shots in 13 of the 24 periods this season.
COMING BACK
After falling behind 1-0 on Saturday night, Miami rallied for a 2-1 victory. It marked the third time this season that the RedHawks picked up a win after allowing the first goal. Also, MU earned a tie at New Hampshire in that situation.
A year ago, Miami was 2-12-3 after falling behind 1-0.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Special-teams play was a big factor in the RedHawks' success in 2008-09 and this year has started no differently. Miami killed off the first 19 penalties it faced this season, but has now allowed a goal on seven of the last 23 chances (35 of 42 total/83.3 percent).
On the other side, Miami has converted nine of 42 power plays for a 21.4 percent rate, including four of seven the last two games.
TOP TEAMS
Since 2005-06, Miami's ice hockey team has the best winning percentage among all 58 Division I teams. Over the last four-plus seasons, the RedHawks have compiled a record of 112-45-15 (.695), just ahead of the next opponent, Michigan, which has a record of 113-49-10 (.686) since 2005-06.
THE WINGELS WAY
Tommy Wingels scored his second game-winning goal of the season on Saturday, a back-handed flick after a nifty side-step past a defender. Two weeks ago, against Michigan State (10/23), the junior captain equalled his career high with a pair of goals (three previous occasions). Wingels has now had at least one point in five of the eight games this season and is tied for second on the team with eight points.
CAMPER FOR HOBEY
Junior Carter Camper is one of the leading candidates for the Hobey Baker Award and started the season with a bang.
The Rocky River, Ohio, native is tied for the team lead in goals with three and is tied for third in points at nine. He tallied the game-winning goal in the season opener, finding the net at 1:52 of overtime. It marked the sixth time in his career that he scored the game-winning goal.
Last year, Camper led the RedHawks with 42 points (20-22) on 122 shots. He also recorded a +5 rating.
FIVE FOR VAIVE
Justin Vaive scored the first two goals in Friday night's 4-3 win at Northern Michigan. The total was a new career high after he previously tallied one goal on nine occasions. Of Vaive's 11 goals over three years, five have come against the Wildcats.
LUCKY 30
Sophomore defenseman Chris Wideman earned his 30th career point on Saturday night, but first for actually finding the net. His power-play slapshot from blue line tied the game at one. Wideman led the RedHawks in assists a year ago with 26, then had three more helpers in the first seven games this season.
Ironically, Wideman's brother, Alex, scored his first goal of the season for the Indiana Ice (USHL) the same night.
CCHA AWARD WINNERS
Sophomore Matt Tomassoni became the first RedHawk to gain a CCHA weekly award this year when he was named Defensive Player of the Week on October 19.
A native of Carol Stream, Ill., Tomassoni netted his first career goal during Friday night's 6-3 win over New Hampshire. His slapshot from the point put Miami up 2-1 in the first period. The next night, the sophomore added to his total, converting a similar shot in a 5-5 tie with the Wildcats.
PENALTY STOP
Sophomore Cody Reichard faced his first collegiate penalty shot against Michigan State on Oct. 23 and made a kick-save at the post. Miami was on the defensive end of two penalties last year with Connor Knapp making both stops.
QUICK STRIKES
Miami's two goals on in the second St. Cloud State game came just 20 seconds apart at 5:22 and 5:42 of the third period. The school record for fastest pair of goals is 11 seconds.
HITTIN' THE ROAD
Miami is in the midst of a string of eight road games over the next five weeks, starting last weekend at Northern Michigan. After this series, the RedHawks host Ferris State before trips to Western Michigan and North Dakota's Subway Holiday Classic.
GOING FOR THREE
The CCHA announced in September that all conference games will count as three points in the standings. When a team wins in regulation or in overtime, it receives all three points.
When a game is tied after 65 minutes, each team gets a point, while the shootout winner gains an extra point.
200 AND COUNTING
Miami University is celebrating its Bicentennial this year as the school was founded in 1809. The year-long celebration started on charter day - Feb. 16, 2009 - but the 2009-10 hockey season will be featured. A reunion will take place during the weekend of the Notre Dame series (Dec. 4-5) and the team will wear a special fourth jersey for certain games.
