OXFORD, Ohio - No goals were scored in the first period, no goals were scored in the third of Miami's home regular-season finale.
But over a stretch of 14:14, the RedHawks scored six goals to beat Ohio State, 6-2 at Cady Arena on Friday.
It was the fourth time in six games Miami scored at least six goals in a game.
"Six goals in one period, we're pretty happy with that," Palmer told CBS College Sports at the second intermission. "It just goes to show how deep our team is."
Ohio State outshot the RedHawks, 14-11 in the first period. But just 1:21 into the second period, junior center Andy Miele stole the puck from sophomore defenseman Mike Folkes in the OSU zone, skated in and roofed it on Buckeyes junior goalie Dustin Carlson, who was guarding the near post.
Junior forward Sergio Somma evened the score two minutes later when he took a centering feed from sophomore forward Zac Dalpe behind the net and beat Miami sophomore Cody Reichard low.
But on the next shift, sophomore forward Trent Vogelhuber knocked in a cross-ice pass through the slot by junior center Pat Cannone to make it 2-1, a lead Miami never relinquished.
Junior Justin Vaive scored his second goal in three games when he redirected a shot by freshman defenseman Joe Hartman past Carlson nine minutes into the period.
With 8:46 left in the middle stanza, junior forward Tommy Wingels grabbed a loose puck at the top of the crease and hammered it home to end Carlson's night.
Despite the goaltending change, Ohio State could not stop the bleeding.
Next it was senior Jarod Palmer's turn. Junior center Andy Miele fed a pass from against the boards, through the crease and onto Palmer's stick, and Palmer juked sophomore goalie Cal Heeter and then deposited the puck in the net.
Palmer created a turnover in the OSU zone a few seconds after the puck was dropped again, then fed defenseman Vincent LoVerde, whose slapshot beat Heeter through the five hole, giving Palmer two points in 17 seconds.
LoVerde, Palmer, Miele and freshman forward Reilly Smith all finished with two points. Smith had two assists, and the other three recorded a goal and a helper.
Reichard faced a season-high 35 shots, but made 33 saves to earn his fifth straight win.
ANALYSIS: Offensively, Miami looked flat early, mainly because it was senior night and the lines were changed up.
Obviously the RedHawks figured it out in the second period.
The fire that was lacking last Saturday vs. Nebraska-Omaha was back on Friday. Miami dominated Ohio State in pretty much every facet of the game.
It's a good night when you can look at the box score and can think of one positive thing every player did.
Miami's passing was especially strong - Miele and Cannone's helpers were exceptional.
GRADES
FORWARDS: A. With some of the lines changed up and two players who rarely see the ice dressed, they combined for five goals and seven assists.
Vaive scored for the second time in three games on a tip in front of the net, which is great to see. Vogelhuber had two goals in the first 29 games of the season, but he has scored four in Miami's last six games.
Miele's goal was outstanding, as was his pass and the subsequent finish by Palmer.
DEFENSEMEN: B. Miami allowed a season-high 35 shots. That's not all the blueliners' fault, of course, but they do share the responsibility for Ohio State generating more shots than any RedHawks opponent this season.
In last Saturday's loss, they contributed nothing offensively, but they combined for a goal and three assists on Friday.
LoVerde and Hartman were once again great in their own end and both got on the scoresheet as well.
Sophomore Will Weber has picked up his hitting the second half of the season, and continued to knock players around on Friday.
GOALTENDING: A-. Reichard didn't have much chance on the first goal - which was scored on a one-timer by a player left wide open in the slot.
Reichard gave up a rebound that ultimately resulted in a nice wrap-around for goal number two.
Overall he played very well, and made 14 saves in the scoreless first - two of which were outstanding - before the onslaught. Had one of those gone in, the outcome may have been different.
LINEUP CHANGES: The seniors were honored before the game, and forwards Dane Hetland and Gary Steffes made rare appearances in the lineup.
Brandon Smith actually started on defense, but that was the only shift he played as a blueliner.
To make room, freshman Curtis McKenzie was scratched for the first time in his career, and fellow frosh Devin Mantha sat after playing five straight games.
Miami went with the same six blueliners for the fourth straight game.
The goaltending rotation has continued unabated for 11 straight games, and it will be interesting to see if Reichard plays again on Saturday or if sophomore Connor Knapp returns to the net after giving up four goals last Saturday and 10 in his last three starts.
There's a good chance that coach Enrico Blasi will probably give Knapp the start.
Leave a comment