Junior center Pat Cannone scored Miami's lone goal as No. 2 Miami and Alaska skated to a 1-1 tie in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Friday, and senior forward Jarod Palmer was the lone shooter to find the net in the shootout as the RedHawks picked up the extra point.
Sophomore defenseman Aaron Gens notched the Nanooks' only goal with 29 seconds remaining in the first period. Cannone's goal, assisted by fellow junior forwards Tommy Wingels and Carter Camper, came less than three minutes into the second period.
Both of the game's goals were scored on the power play.
Miami's lead over Michigan State was trimmed to four points, as the Spartans beat Ohio State, 5-2, but the RedHawks have two games in hand.
Miami sophomore goalie Cody Reichard made 20 saves, including four in overtime. He also denied all three Alaska (10-7-6) shooters to help Miami earn its second point.
Miami (15-4-6) was without junior center Andy Miele and freshman defenseman Joe Hartman. Miele was suspended for being assessed a major penalty last Saturday. The reason for Hartman's absence from the lineup is unknown.
It was the first game either player has missed all season.
The series finale will be played at 7:05 p.m. today.
BOTTOM LINE: Two points is acceptable considering the travel involved, especially without Miele and Hartman in the lineup.
Miami is now 2-0-1 on its toughest four-game stretch of the second half, which could've gone very badly after the RedHawks were swept by Robert Morris.
GRADES
FORWARDS: C-. Travel or not, Miele or not, Miami should've scored more than one goal. They generated 23 shots on goal. Alaska sophomore goalie Scott Greenham did play well.
Miele comes back for Saturday's game, and hopefully the jet lag will wear off.
DEFENSEMEN: B+. Alaska had 21 shots, and only scored one goal. However, the blueliners were a non-factor on offense, managing just one SOG, and they took three non-coincidental minor penalties.
GOALTENDING: A. Reichard's phenomenal season continues. In his bounce-back games after allowing three or more goals, Reichard has allowed two goals in six games.
He turned aside 20 shots - four in OT - and three shootout shots.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Miami was 1-for-4 on the power play, and Alaska was 1 of 6.
The RedHawks have scored on the man-advantage in consecutive games, and have surrendered a PPG in back-to-back games.
LINEUP CHANGES: Freshman Devin Mantha played in his third straight game, and freshman Steve Mason cracked the lineup for the first time since Nov. 13 vs. Ferris State. Mason had sat out 13 straight games. Senior center Brandon Smith played in his eighth straight.
Miele missed his first game of the season because of the suspension, and senior Gary Steffes was benched for the third consecutive game.
It's good to see coach Enrico Blasi giving Mantha playing time, but Mason probably didn't help his cause by taking a bad penalty that resulted in Alaska's only goal.
On defense, freshman Steven Spinell returned to the lineup after sitting out the Ferris State weekend, and sophomore Matt Tomassoni played in his third consecutive game. Hartman had not missed a game this season.
If Hartman is out for an extended period, it will severely hurt Miami. Fortunately the RedHawks are very deep on the blueline, but Hartman has been one of Miami's best.
Reichard played in his third consecutive game, marking the first time he had played as many games in a row since he started five straight Oct. 30-Nov. 13.
Reichard gave up four goals last Saturday playing back-to-back nights, so it's unclear who the frontrunner is to start Saturday.
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