Senior forward Jarod Palmer scored a pair of first-period goals 5:04 apart, and sophomore goaltender Cody Reichard stopped 27 shots as Miami beat Michigan, 3-1 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor on Friday.
Off of a scoring chance he created, Palmer grabbed a loose puck in front of the Michigan net, and backhanded it over sprawled out junior Brian Hogan to open the scoring less than four minutes into the game.
Then midway through the first period, Palmer's well-placed wrist shot beat Hogan over his left shoulder on the power play to make it 2-0.
Senior Brandon Smith scored his first goal of the season to ice the game for the RedHawks (7-1-1), who won for just the fourth time in 48 all-time games in Ann Arbor.
Reichard, who stopped a penalty shot in the second period, improved to 6-0 in games he has started.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a huge win for Miami, guaranteeing the RedHawks a winning record on their current four-game road trip.
Miami didn't look good in the second period - the team's best stanza so far this season - but the RedHawks rebounded with a strong third period.
A five-game unbeaten streak on the road to start the season considering the opponents Miami has played away from home is outstanding.
Reichard's positioning and rebound control was outstanding all game.
GRADES
FORWARDS: B. Three goals in Michigan (4-3) is good, but that won't happen too often when a team generates 13 shots.
DEFENSEMEN: B. Did a pretty good job shutting down Michigan's offense. The Wolverines had 28 shots on goal, but RedHawks blueliners only generated two shots.
GOALTENDING: A. Reichard was amazing. The only goal he let in was on a 5-on-3. Plus he denied a penalty shot. He was 27-for-28.
LINEUP MOVES: Sophomore defensemen Matt Tomassoni was out for the second straight game. Last Saturday it was supposedly the flu, but he also missed the previous Friday.
Whatever the problem, Tomassoni has been excellent when he's been in the lineup. Freshman Steve Spinell was solid in his place.
Senior Gary Steffes sat out, which is odd. Could be this flu that's going around, could be the fact that he didn't have a point in the first eight games. Senior Dane Hetland played for the first time since 2007-08 in his place, and he recorded his first point since his freshman year.
AND IN GOAL TONIGHT...: ...is anyone's guess. Reichard has allowed six goals in his last four starts, but sophomore Connor Knapp's scheduled start last week was supposedly skipped because of the flu.
Knapp has struggled in his last two starts, allowing eight goals in 90 minutes.
If I had to guess I'd say Knapp gets the start. Coach Enrico Blasi has been patient when rotating goalies. However, I think if Knapp does start he'll be on a short leash, and if he struggles again Reichard starts playing every night.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Once again Miami both scores and allows a goal on the man-advantage. The RedHawks were 1-for-4 on the power play, giving them PPGs in five straight games.
Michigan was 1 of 6, making this the sixth consecutive game Miami's penalty killers have surrendered a goal.
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