Two of the newest RedHawks jump-started Miami’s offense.
Austin Baker and Matous Kucharcik — both NHL draft picks — tallied a goal and an assist apiece as the RedHawks downed Northern Michigan, 4-1 at the Berry Events Center on Saturday to salvage a series split.
Miami was blanked in its season opener a night prior.
Kucharcik opened the scoring with 4:51 left in the first period, and Baker extended the lead to two at the 8:46 mark of the final stanza.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to one with 2:09 remaining on a 6-on-4, but Matteo Giampa and Bradley Walker sealed it for Miami with empty netters.
The RedHawks are off next weekend and play Robert Morris in a rare home-and-home series on Oct. 15 — their home opener — and Oct. 17.
A couple of quick notes:
— Strange that there were no 5-on-5 goals all weekend.
On Friday, Northern Michigan scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded in its 3-0 win, and on Saturday, Miami netted a pair of PPGs and two more empty netters. The Wildcats’ lone goal was on the man-advantage with an extra attacker.
— Stranger that the shot total was 30-19 in favor of Miami both nights. Obviously the RedHawks were more efficient in the series finale.
— Finishing 6-for-9 on the penalty kill (66.7 percent) for the series against a team that was the NCAA’s worst offensive team by a wide margin last season isn’t going to work in the NCHC.
— Miami took another too many men penalty, a way-too-common theme in previous seasons. If that trend continues, the RedHawks may want to consider playing Genesis’ “Land of Confusion” at home games.
Full disclosure: VFG was traveling and unable to watch the game, so we’ll do much more extensive coverage for future games this season.
