Game Day: Miami vs. North Dakota, A Series Preview

by | Nov 13, 2015

Game Day: Miami vs. North Dakota, A Series Preview

by | Nov 13, 2015

This weekend, the University of North Dakota takes on the Miami RedHawks in their National Collegiate Hockey Conference home opener. After 10 games, the RedHawks will be the first team UND will play with a winning record.

Series History

All-time, UND leads the series against the Miami University RedHawks 7-4-1 (.688). In Grand Forks, North Dakota: UND leads the series 3-1-1 (.700). In Oxford, Ohio: the series tied 2-2-0 (.500). At neutral sites: UND leads 2-1-0 the series (.667). Under head coach Brad Berry: First meeting. Last 10 games against the RedHawks, UND leads the series  5-4-1.

#3 North Dakota (7-1-2, 2-0-0-0 NCHC) vs. #17 Miami RedHawks (5-4-1, 2-2-0-0 NCHC)

Date: November 13-14, 2015
Time: 7:37 CT Friday, 7:07 CT Saturday
Location: Ralph Engelstad Arena (11,634), Grand Forks, ND
Radio: 96.1 The Fox, IHeart Radio
TV: MidcoSports Network
Web: NCHC.TV
Live Stats: UNDsports.com

Tale of the Tape

North Dakota

UND Last Time Out: Split (1-3 L, 3-1 W)
UND Offense: 20th, 3.30 GPG UND
Defense: 6th, 1.70 G/GM
UND Scoring Margin: 8th, 1.60
UND Power Play: 36th, (6/42, 14.3%)
UND Penalty Kill: 33rd, (30/36, 83.3%)
UND Penalty Minutes: 25th, 11.4 PIM/G
Streak: 7-1-2, last 10 games
USCHO Ranking: 3
(UND Official Game Notes)

Miami RedHawks

MU: Last Time Out: Swept WMU (2-1 W, 2-1 W)
MU Offense: 50th, 2.00 GPG MU
Defense: 20th, 2.50 G/GM MU
Scoring Margin: 42nd, -0.50
MU Power Play: 23rd, (7/38, 18.42%)
MU Penalty Kill: 3rd, (34/35. 97.1%)
MU Penalty Minutes: 18th, 11.8 PIM/G
Streak: 5-4-1, last 10 games USCHO Ranking: 17
(MU Official Game Notes)
(s/t College Hockey Stats Net)

Players of Note

North Dakota: Forwards: Drake Caggiula (3g-8a—11pts), Bryn Chyzyk (5g-3a—8pts), Brock Boeser (5g-2a—7pts), Nick Schmaltz (0g-7a—7pts), Johnny Simonson (2g-4a—6pts), Luke Johnson (2g-4a—6pts).  Defense: Troy Stecher (2g-5a—7pts), Christian Wolanin (3g-2a—5pts), Tucker Poolman (0g-4a—4pts), Gage Ausmus (0g-4a—4pts), Keaton Thompson (1g-2a—3pts). Goaltenders: Cam Johnson (1-0-1, 1.82 GAA, .907 SV%), Matt Hrynkiw (6-1-1, 1.63 GAA, .933 Sv%). (UND Stats)

UND Injuries: Goalies: Matej Tomek, Cam Johnson, Colten St. Clair.

Miami: Forwards: Jack Roslovic (6g-3a—9pts), Anthony Louis (1g-5a—6pts), Josh Melnick (3g-3a—6pts), Alex Gacek (2g-4a—6pts). Defense: Louie Belpedio (1g-4a—5pts), Matthew Caito (1g-3a—4pts), Chris Joyaux (2g01a—3pts). Goalies: Ryan McKay (5-2-1, 1.70 GAA, .937 SV%), Jay Williams 0-2-0, 5.67 GAA, .800 SV%).

Miami vs. North Dakota

Reading a few of the blog posts and newspaper articles this morning. Much has been made of Miami wanting revenge for UND winning the league title on the RedHawks home ice.

“We won a title on their ice, which obviously doesn’t sit well with them,” UND senior forward Drake Caggiula said. “It’s a rivalry brewing. We play them a lot. Games are getting pretty heated. I remember last year we had a little tussle at The Ralph with all 10 guys on the ice. I don’t expect us to shy away from that, and I don’t think they will either.

“It’s definitely part of the game, especially when we play these guys.”

I would argue that the RedHawks got revenge the following night when they won 6-3. I can imagine that the RedHawks were probably angry watching UND win and celebrate the title on the RedHawks home ice. Following that series sweep, the RedHawks would go on to win the Conference Playoff title, four games later. So, we will see.

There’s one thing for certain, UND and Miami don’t like each other very much.

Series Prediction

If you go back and look at the history between the two teams, the games have been very even. Since both teams have been in the NCHC, neither teams have won more than two games in a row. There’s only been one series sweep. UND swept the RedHawks (3-2 W, 9-2 W) on February 14-15, 2014. UND would lose 0-3 to the RedHawks in the semifinals of the Frozen Faceoff on March 21, 2014.

Series Prediction: I am going to go with a split, MU 3-2 Friday, and UND 4-1 Saturday.

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