What a difference one minute makes.
The Miami RedHawks led Boston University 3-1 with under one minute remaining in last season’s national championship game. The Terriers roared back, scoring two extra-attacker goals in the final 60 seconds of regulation. After almost twelve excruciating minutes of overtime, Colby Cohen’s shot deflected, looped, and dropped into the net, giving BU their fifth national championship.
Miami was one minute from hanging their first NCAA championship banner.
The RedHawks appear driven to finish what was left undone last season. Miami has lost just twice this season, both by one goal. Enrico Blasi’s squad is quick, deep, and talented, and North Dakota will need their best effort of the season to knock off the RedHawks.
Miami Team Profile
Head Coach: Enrico Blasi (11th season at Miami, 219-153-37, .581)
This Season: 9-2-4 Overall, 6-1-3-1 CCHA (1st)
National Rankings: #1/#1
Team Offense: 2.87 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 1.80 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 16.5% (13 of 79)
Penalty Kill: 89.3% (75 of 84)
Last Season: 23-13-5 Overall (NCAA national runner-up), 17-7-4 CCHA
Key Players: Junior F Carter Camper (6-6-12), Senior F Jarod Palmer (5-8-13), Junior F Andy Miele (5-10-15), Freshman D Joe Hartman (3-3-6), Sophomore G Cody Reichard (8-1-2, 1.59 GAA, .927 SV%, 1 SO)
North Dakota Team Profile
Head Coach: Dave Hakstol (6th season at UND, 138-75-20, .635)
National Ranking: #4/#4
This Season: 8-4-1, 5-4-1 WCHA (t-4th)
Last Season: 24-15-4 overall (NCAA Northeast Regional semifinalist), 17-7-4 WCHA (1st)
Team Offense: 3.15 goals scored/game
Team Defense: 1.69 goals allowed/game
Power Play: 22.4% (17 of 76)
Penalty Kill: 89.0% (65 of 73)
Key Players: Senior F Chris VandeVelde (4-9-13), Sophomore F David Toews (4-6-10) Junior F Evan Trupp (4-8-12), Senior D Chay Genoway (4-6-10), Sophomore G Brad Eidsness (7-3-1, 1.63 GAA, .931 SV%, 1 SO)
By The Numbers
Last Meeting: October 8, 2005 (Dayton, OH). North Dakota blanked Miami 3-0 in the opening game of the Lefty McFadden Invitational. Jordan Parise made 37 saves for the Fighting Sioux and helped UND kill all eleven RedHawk power plays.
Most Important Meeting: For the second game in a row, the most important meeting is the one about to be played. This matchup has far-reaching NCAA playoff implications.
All-time Series: North Dakota leads the all-time series 2-0-0. The teams have never played in Grand Forks.
Game News and Notes
UND is 10-5-0 all-time in the Subway Holiday Classic. North Dakota senior defenseman Chay Genoway is still out of the lineup after suffering an upper body injury against St. Cloud State. UND was 7-1-1 with Genoway in the lineup and are 1-3-0 in his absence with all three losses by one goal. Miami has already played six overtime games this season, going 1-1-4 in those games. North Dakota is 5-1-1 at home this season.
The Prediction
If the RedHawks can survive the opening period against UND, they will be tough to put away. Miami is 6-0-3 when scoring first and has outscored opponents 35-19 in the second and third periods this season. But the Ralph should be rocking on Saturday night, and the Fighting Sioux will grab an early lead and hold on in a nail-biter. UND 3-2.
Bonus Prediction
Bemidji State is for real, and will be a top-eight team in the NCAAs. Ohio State will change goaltenders, and it won’t matter. BSU 3-1.