OXFORD, Ohio — Miami not only hung with No. 4 Western Michigan for two periods, the RedHawks outscored and outshot their closest rivals in those frames.
Unfortunately for MU, it had to defend the north end zone goal in the second stanza, and the Broncos pumped in seven goals in those 20 minutes.
That tied a Miami record for goals against in a period as WMU cruised to an 8-3 win over the RedHawks at Cady Arena on Friday.
The last time a Miami opponent netted seven goals in a frame was over 29 years ago.
The RedHawks — winless in their last 25 games and 0-22-1 in the NCHC — have one last chance to end both of those skids in their season finale against WMU at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.
RECAP: Western Michigan (25-7-1) took the lead 6:09 into the first period when Wyatt Schingoethe corralled a centering feed from Grant Slukynsky in the slot, took one stride toward the net and roofed it over Miami goalie Bruno Bruveris.
Miami (3-27-3) tied the score with 2:25 left in the opening frame, as Colby Ambrosio intercepted a pass at the blue line, skated in with a defender draped over him and beat Broncos goalie Hampton Slukynsky with a forehander.
Then the second period started.
WMU’s Alex Bump fired a shot across his body that found the net, glove side, just 31 seconds in.
And 21 seconds later it was a wide-open Zach Nehring scoring on a one-timer from the side of the net, making it 3-1.
Zack Sharp was the next to score for the Broncos, extending their lead to three, and still 15:14 remained in the second period.
Miami did cut the deficit to two, as Max Dukovac whipped a wrister past Hampton Slukynsky glove side on a 2-on-1 exactly 11 minutes later.
But Western Michigan’s Nehring, Tim Washe, Ty Henricks and Joona Vaisanen all scored in the final 3:09 of that frame to blow it open, taking a six-goal lead into intermission.
Bruveris was pulled after WMU’s seventh goal in favor of Brett Miller.
The RedHawks generated the lone goal of the third period, as Raimonds Vitolins tapped home a feed from Matt Choupani down low on the power play with 17:04 left in regulation.
STATS: Ambrosio scored for the third time in six games and regained the outright team lead, netting his seventh of the season.
Dukovac potted his second goal in three contests, and Vitolins has now recorded a pair of markers in his last five. It was the fourth tally of the season for both.
Bruveris earned a rare goalie assist, the first of his career and second by a netminder this season for Miami (Ethan Dahlmeir also has one).
Johnny Waldron picked up a helper, giving him five points in six games and a team-high 19 on the campaign.
The other assists went to defenseman Conner Hutchison, his first point since Dec. 7 vs. North Dakota, and Choupani, which snapped a nine-game pointless streak.
— Despite the lopsided score, Miami won the special teams battle, going 1-for-2 on the power play and killing both of its minor penalties.
The RedHawks hadn’t bested a team on special teams since Jan. 11 at Denver in a 6-2 loss when they scored two PPGs and allowed one.
Now the bad…
— The last time Miami allowed seven goals in a period was Jan. 6, 1996 in its infamous 13-0 loss at Michigan.
The only other time the RedHawks have surrendered seven goals in a stanza was Jan. 3, 1988 against — of all teams — Western Michigan in Riverfront Invitational in Cincinnati. The RedHawks lost that game, 10-6.
— That’s the third snowman a Miami opponent has recorded this season. The RedHawks have allowed 44 goals their last nine games (4.89 average) despite holding Minn.-Duluth to one last Saturday.
— Miami has lost 25 straight March games. The RedHawks’ last March victory came on March 10, 2018 in the middle game of a best-of-3 NCHC Tournament opening-round series.
ANALYSIS: After Miami dominated the final few minutes of the first period against the fourth-ranked team in the NCAA and headed into intermission tied at one, the expectation was Western Michigan would come out in the second period, guns a blazin’.
Before many of the sparce crowd returned to its seats, the Broncos had scored twice.
Four minutes later it was 4-1, and when Dukovac dared score to cut the Miami deficit to two later in the frame, an angry WMU responded with four goals in a 3:04 span.
The RedHawks were atrocious in the second period at every level, no doubt, but the Broncos also put together a season full of highlight reel footage during those 20 minutes.
Noreen called WMU the best team he’s seen all season, and it’s hard to disagree.
— But we will disagree with Noreen letting Bruveris get shelled for seven goals on 20 shots.
Certainly the WMU outburst wasn’t all on Bruveris, but it was obvious it wasn’t his night several goals in, and even if none of the goals were on Bruveris, coaches will turn to their backups in blowouts to send a message to their skaters, typically after six goals, tops.
Miami also never called timeout during the second-period debacle to slow the momentum and potentially stop the bleeding against a team known for scoring in rapid succession.
That said, Miller was excellent in relief. He allowed a goal with five seconds left in the second period but stopped 10 of 11 shots.
— Overall MU played well in the first period, but bakeries have fewer turnovers. Miami struggled to complete passes the first 10 minutes, and many ended up on Bronco sticks. One WMU shot hit both posts and ricocheted out of danger.
— No one’s fault but Miami men’s basketball started at 6 p.m., so there was a skeleton staff and even fewer fans and students than usual (basketball did beat Ball State, 79-66).
That said, seeing the attendance listed at 1,411 makes us very sad.
LINEUP CHANGES: Just one: D Spencer Cox returned to the lineup following a minor LBI, replacing F Tanyon Bajzer, as Miami returned to its 12 forward/seven defenseman structure.
STANDINGS: Miami remains tied with Northern Michigan for 62nd out of 64 in the PairWise. Mercyhurst is buried in last place.
GRADES
FORWARDS: B-. Miami forwards haven’t generated three goals in a game since Jan. 24 at St. Cloud State, which — hilariously — the RedHawks also lost by the same 8-3 score. Dukovac scored again and has been impressive since returning from his latest injury. Loved the individual effort by Ambrosio on his goal, as well as the Vitolins-from-Choupani PPG.
DEFENSEMEN: D. Hutchison picked up an assist, but it’s unlikely any of the seven D-men will use footage from this game for a highlight reel. Too many missed assignments, clearing turnovers and WMU skaters left in front of the net wide open.
GOALTENDING: D. It wasn’t Bruveris’ night, and he didn’t get a ton of help. Miller allowed a goal with five seconds left in the second period but was excellent in the final frame, raising the total grade. Miller has been solid in stop-the-bleeding mode.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Miami’s final game of 2024-25 is on Saturday, and it sounds like things will move quickly in the coming days and weeks.
Saturday is Senior Night, and with all the current senior class has endured the past four years, an upset win on home ice — snapping a historic losing streak — would have to be the ultimate prize for those playing their final collegiate game.
View From the Glass 