When these teams last met, Miami took down Denver in MU’s signature Pod showing, winning 3-0 behind 26 saves by Ludvig Persson.
Prior to that victory, the RedHawks had dropped their previous six vs. DU, during which they were outscored, 32-10.
Denver has won its last three against MU at Magness Arena, scoring 19 goals in those contests, and the Pioneers are off to a 5-0 start in their own building in 2021-22.
A look at this weekend’s matchup:
WHO: Miami RedHawks (2-7-1, 1-3 NCHC) at No. 11 Denver Pioneers (6-4, 2-2 NCHC).
WHERE: Magness Arena (6,026), Denver, Colo.
WHEN: Friday – 9:07 p.m.; Saturday – 8:07 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Denver leads, 20-13-3.
TV: Friday – Altitude2 (DirecTV Ch. 681-1); Saturday – Altitude Network (DirecTV Ch. 681).
STREAMING: Both nights – NCHC.tv ($).
MIAMI RADIO: Friday – WKBV-AM (1490), Richmond, Ind.; Saturday – WMOH-AM (1450), Hamilton, Ohio.
DENVER RADIO: Both nights – KEPN-AM (1600), Denver, Colo.
NOTES: It’s been a season of streaks so far for Denver.
The Pioneers won their first four, lost their next four and snapped that skid by sweeping Western Michigan at home last weekend.
Denver is fourth in Division I in scoring, averaging 4.2 goals per game and ranks No. 9 on the power play, executing at a 26.2 percent clip.
Sophomore Carter Savoie is second in the conference only to Omaha’s Taylor Ward in points and is second in the NCAA in goals (10).
Three other Pioneers forwards are also in double digits in points 10 games into the season – Bobby Brink, Massimo Rizzo and Cole Guttman.
Brink leads all forwards in assists (9) and has 48 points in 53 career games.
Rizzo, a freshman, is second on the team in goals only to Savoie at 6-6-12 and has a 31.6 percent shooting percentage.
Guttman has 87 career points and a 3-8-11 line so far this season as he always finds a way to get his numbers.
Bowling Green graduate transfer Cameron Wright – who netted 33 goals for the Falcons his last two seasons there – has already scored five times for Denver, giving him 56 collegiate tallies.
On defense, freshman Sean Behrens leads the team with 10 helpers.
Matt Benning has also been a key contributor on the back end with four goals.
Justin Lee, Shai Buium, Kyle Mayhew and Antti Tuomisto are the Pioneers’ other predominant regulars on defense.
Junior and third-year starter Magnus Chrona remains the man in net, but his numbers have not been great thus far, as he is 5-3 with a 2.82 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage.
Freshman Matt Davis has a 2.36 GAA and .911 save percentage and was in net for the Pioneers’ lone shutout last month.
Miami will almost certainly be without one of its top points producers, Chase Gresock, who was in a boot at the concourse level last weekend. And Bray Crowder (upper body) still has not dressed in 2021-22.
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