St. Cloud State dominated Miami last season, winning all four meetings by an aggregate score of 23-8.
But the Huskies are currently eighth in the NCHC with four points in four games, one point ahead of last place Miami, which has earned just three points with its 1-3 conference record.
VFG takes a look at the upcoming series between the teams with the fewest league points:
WHO: St. Cloud State Huskies (6-6) at Miami RedHawks (7-3).
WHERE: Cady Arena (3,049), Oxford, Ohio.
WHEN: Friday–7:05 p.m.; Saturday–6:05 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: St. Cloud State leads, 36-19-6.
VIDEO STREAMING: NCHC.tv ($).
ST. CLOUD STATE RADIO: KNSI-FM (99.3) and KNSI-AM (1450), St. Cloud, Minn.
MIAMI RADIO: Both nights–Miamiredhawks.com. Greg Waddell (PxP) and Drew Davis (color).
NOTES: St. Cloud State has had no problem putting the puck in the net, scoring at a 3.17 clip, and sophomore Anaheim draftee Austin Burnevik has 11 of the Huskies’ 38 goals, plus four assists for a team-best 15 points.
The 6-foot-4 forward has 24 goals in a season-plus.
Juniors Tyler Gross (4-11-15) and Barrett Hall (4-9-13) have also been major contributors up front for St. Cloud State.
A pair of freshmen have also made an impact for the Huskies up front: Nolan Roed is fourth on the team with eight points, including two goals, and Nolan Urness has scored three times and added four assists.
On defense, Cooper Zinger has been SCSU’s top points threat with a goal and six assists. Graduate senior Josh Zinger is 1-4-5, and Max Smolinski, Mason Reiners and Tanner Henricks all have four points.
In net, Latvian Maine transfer Patriks Berzins is 3-2 with a 2.04 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. Belarussian freshman Yan Shostak has played in seven games but has an .899 save percentage and a 2.71 GAA.
St. Cloud State has seen a lot of special teams scored this season. The Huskies are tied for the top power play percentage in Division I (32.7 percent) but are 53rd out of 63 teams on the penalty kill at 73.2 percent.
They average 33 shots per game and Miami allows an average of 33 SOG, so RedHawks goaltending will likely see a lot of rubber.
Speaking of which, there may be news in the next day regarding the status of Shika Gadzhiev, who has not been cleared by the NCAA despite having enrolled at Miami and met all eligibility requirements.
Matteo Drobac has logged every minute in the Miami net, going 7-3 including a shutout with a 3.19 goals-against average and a respectable .902 save percentage.
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