Jan. 15, 2007

Ohio State Series Notes in PDF Format
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HOME-AND-HOME: The RedHawks battle intra-state rival Ohio State this weekend in a home-and-home series that gets underway Friday (Jan.19) at Ohio State at 7:05 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday (Jan. 21) in Oxford at Steve Cady Arena at 4:35 p.m.

ON THE AIR: Friday's game versus Ohio State can be heard live on WFMG - 101.3 FM out of Richmond, Ind., while both games of the series can be heard via www.MURedHawks.com, with Greg Waddell calling all the action. The pregame show will begin on both days 15 minutes prior to the opening faceoff. In addition, Sunday's contest will be carried live on ESPNU.

A FAMILIAR FOE: This weekend's home-and-home series with Ohio State marks the fourth and fifth meetings between the RedHawks and Buckeyes this season. Miami posted a win and a tie against Ohio State in a home-and-home series on Dec. 8-9, before dropping a 5-3 decision in the championship game of the 2006 Ohio Hockey Classic at Nationwide Arena on Dec. 30. Including this weekend's series, five of Miami's last 10 games will have been against Ohio State.

A LOOK BACK: Miami split its road series at Western Michigan, taking Friday's contest 5-3, before dropping Saturday's contest by an identical score. The win in the series opener extended the RedHawks' winning streak over the Broncos to five games, a streak that dated back to Jan. 20, 2006. Senior Geoff Smith and sophomore Justin Mercier each notched a goal and two assists in the game. On Saturday, WMU scored three times in the third period, including an empty-net goal with just over two seconds remaining in the game. Senior Marty Guerin extended his point streak to a career-best nine games with a power-play goal in the second period for Miami.

RESTORING THE POWER: With a power-play goal in the second period of Friday's 5-3 win over Western Michigan, freshman Jarod Palmer snapped a stretch of 19 consecutive power-play chances without a goal for the RedHawks that dated back to the first period of Miami's Dec. 29 game versus Bowling Green at the Ohio Hockey Classic. Despite losing 5-3 on Saturday, Miami continued its power-play dominance by scoring three times with the man-advantage on seven opportunities. For the season, Miami ranks seventh nationally in power-play efficience, converting at a 21.7 percent (38-for-175) clip.

THE THRILL OF THE KILL: Miami's penalty-killing unit continued its dominance last weekend at Western Michigan, holding the Broncos to just one power-play goal in 12 chances, including a 9-for-10 performance on the penalty kill on Saturday. The RedHawks rank second nationally at 90.4 percent behind Vermont at 90.8 percent, and have held the opposition scoreless with the man-advantage in 13 games this season. Last year, Miami's penalty-killing unit finished the season ranked fourth nationally (87.3 percent).

THE LAST SIX GAMES: Over its last six games Miami is just 3-3-0, marking the first stretch of games this season that Miami has played at or below the .500 mark. In those six games, Miami has been outscored 21-20, including a 12-7 deficit in the third period of those six games.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Friday nights have been very kind to the RedHawks this season as they are 12-1-0 on Friday, with their lone loss coming on Nov. 10 at Lake Superior State (2-1). Last season, Miami was 9-4-4 on Fridays.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER: With last Saturday's 5-3 loss at Western Michigan, Miami's record on Saturday night's this season dropped to 5-6-1, after posting a 13-4-0 mark on Saturdays last year. The RedHawks are 1-3-1 over their last five games on Saturdays.

THE SERIES VERSUS OHIO STATE: Meeting for the fourth and fifth times this season, the season series between Miami and Ohio State stands at 1-1-1. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 55-50-9, but Miami won last year's season series 3-1-1. In his eight seasons behind the Miami bench, head coach Enrico Blasi is 15-17-3 versus Ohio State

ROTATING HEROICS: Miami is 17-8-1 this season and 12 different players have registered game-winning goals for the Red and White. Senior Geoff Smith was the newest addition to the group as he scored the decisive tally for the RedHawks versus Western Michigan on Jan. 12. So far this year, nine forwards - Ryan Jones, Justin Mercier, Jarod Palmer, Nathan Davis, Marty Guerin, Nino Musitelli, Brian Kaufman, Geoff Smith, and Gary Steffes - and three defensemen - Alec Martinez, Mitch Ganzak and Raymond Eichenlaub - have registered game-winners. Jones leads the squad with four.

HOLDING THE LEAD: Miami suffered its first loss of the season when leading after two periods as the RedHawks surrendered four unanswered goals in the third period on Jan. 6 versus Michigan State. The RedHawks led 1-0 after 40 minutes, but are now 12-1-1 when leading heading into the third. Last season, the RedHawks were equally as dominating when entering the third period with a lead, as evidenced by their 22-1-0 mark when holding the lead after 40 minutes.

NATIONALLY SPEAKING: Miami ranks 10th in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 3.62 goals-per game, while the RedHawks are 18th in scoring defense as they are allowing 2.62 goals-per contest. Last year's Miami squad averaged 3.12 GPG and allowed just 2.02 GPG.

THIS SEASON'S RANKINGS: Miami started the season at No. 8 in both major national polls and reached its highest point of the season with a pair of No. 3 rankings on Nov. 20. Miami sits at No. 9 in both the USCHO.com and USA Today polls this week. The RedHawks have been ranked in the Top 5 for eight weeks this season, after spending 17 consecutive weeks there last season.

HOME SWEET OHIO: Including this weekend's home-and-home series with Ohio State, 10 of Miami's last 12 games will have been in the state of Ohio, with its only venture outside of the Buckeye State coming last weekend at Western Michigan. Of the 10 games Miami has remaining on its schedule after this weekend, only three of them will be in Ohio, including a trip to league-leading Notre Dame on Jan. 26-27.