On paper, it looked like Miami and Arizona State would light up the scoreboard this weekend, as the RedHawks entered the series tied for 15th in scoring and the Sun Devils’ power play was among the best in Division I.
Instead, a night after the teams combined for just three goals, ASU slipped past Miami, 1-0 on a late goal at Mullett Arena on Saturday.
The RedHawks host Omaha next weekend, only their fifth home series of the season.
RECAP: It appeared Miami (12-8-2) had taken the lead on the power play midway through the first period on a point shot by Michael Quinn, but after review it was determined a minute earlier a chip pass along the boards by Casper Nassen hit part of the Arizona State bench and caromed back onto the ice.
So the game remained scoreless through two periods, despite a five-minute power play for Arizona State (12-11-1) on a boarding call.
Finally, the Sun Devils broke through with 8:46 left in regulation. Logan Morrell flipped a backhand pass through the slot to a streaking Noah Powell, who shoveled a backhander past Miami goalie Matteo Drobac.
Arizona State had a potentially game-clinching empty netter waved off due to an inadvertent whistle, and Miami was called for a penalty with 19 seconds left, sealing the loss.
STATS: Drobac deserved a better fate, as he stopped 25 of 26 shots (.962) and finished the weekend 62-for-64 (.969).
He raised his season save percentage from .898 to .905 in this series and lowered his goals-against average to 2.93 from 3.14.
— Like Friday, Miami held Arizona State scoreless on the power play, as ASU was unable to cash in on its two chances, including a major.
The RedHawks are 12-for-12 their last four games on the penalty kill.
But MU was also 0 of 2 on the man-advantage and slipped to 3-for-34 (8.8 percent) their last eight contests.
ANALYSIS: Miami came out with rocket fuel in its skates. Despite not scoring, the first 20 minutes were some of the RedHawks’ best all season.
Arizona State definitely found its legs to start the middle stanza, but MU finished that frame well, dominating in offensive zone possession time.
Miami held ASU to four third-period shots, but unfortunately one went in on what looked a missed assignment, as Powell skated in uncontested toward the RedHawks’ net.
— Reviews played a major role in this game, and 2 of 3 went against Miami. The Quinn ‘goal’ was overturned, and initially Nicholas Mikan was assessed a minor penalty for boarding but it was upgraded to a major, and a no-call on a hit by Kocha Delic was upheld.
Penalty minutes for the weekend were 15:19-14:00 in favor of Arizona State, but that didn’t stop the Sun Devils’ broadcasting crew from complaining about the officiating non-stop.
— More Miami alumni were in the building for Friday’s win, as former RedHawks Alex Wideman, Jay Williams and Max Cook all made an appearance at Mullett Arena.
Wideman was also at the Lindenwood series, played near his hometown of St. Louis.
LINEUP CHANGES: After playing 13 forwards on Friday, Miami returned to a seven-defenseman lineup.
That was the only change to the lineup: Nick Donato dressed on defense, with John Emmons sitting.
Interesting that the RedHawks have now included ‘(inj.)’ next to scratches Brayden Morrison, Owen Lalonde and Matteo Giampa (we’re assuming ‘inj.’ stands for ‘injury’ and not ‘injustice’, or worse yet, ‘injunction’).
STANDINGS: Miami remains in last place in the NCHC with 10 points, two behind both Omaha and Colorado College and four back of St. Cloud State.
As of 11 p.m. EST Saturday, the RedHawks had dropped to No. 32 in the NPI, down from 30th earlier in the day.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Miami deserved a better result in this game. Both teams had surges, but overall, the RedHawks were the better team.
But credit Slovenian goalie Samuel Urban, who stopped all 37 shots he faced and ASU’s defensive effort.
Officiating anomalies aside, the game was scoreless heading into the third period and Arizona State came up with a clutch even-strength goal late to win it.
It’s a shame Miami only earned two points in this series, but the RedHawks played 120 outstanding minutes of NCHC road hockey, foreshadowing better things in the coming weeks, months and years.
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