Miami ended a four-game drought in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association on Friday night against Nebraska-Omaha when senior goalie David Burleigh posted a 3-0 shutout over the visiting Mavericks.
Burleigh stopped 28 Nebraska-Omaha shots en route to his school-record ninth shutout, and three different RedHawks scored goals in the victory, as Miami improved to 8-6-1 in the CCHA and 14-8-1 overall.
The RedHawks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as junior Greg Hogeboom deflected home his ninth power-play goal of the season only 3:48 into the first period. Hogeboom planted himself on the crease and deflected a slapshot from freshman Matt Davis over the shoulder of UNO goaltender Dan Ellis. Also assisting on the goal was junior defenseman Ben Tharp.
Burleigh stopped seven Maverick shots in the first period, but really turned it up a notch in the second period when he needed 14 saves to keep a zero on the scoreboard.
He got some help from his offense at 5:35 when sophomore Todd Grant scored his fourth goal in as many games on a 3-on-2 break. Creating the goal with a feed from the right wing was senior Nick Jardine, and starting the play was freshman Chris Michael .
The RedHawks added an insurance goal at 8:24 in the third period to bring the game to its final tally, 3-0. Senior Chris Knupp slipped behind the UNO defense and fed his linemate, senior Matt Medvecz, with a feed towards the faceoff circle. Medvecz took care of the rest as he wristed a shot low on Ellis for his sixth goal of the season. Also earning an assist, and much credit for keeping the puck in the zone, was freshman John Lenz.
The third stanza ended with a blitzkrieg of penalty calls, as one player from each team was ejected for fighting. But it was the play of Burleigh that ended up stealing the show.
On the opposite end of the ice, Ellis made 34 saves despite suffering the loss.
Nebraska-Omaha, which now stands at 8-11-2 overall and 6-9-0 in the CCHA, and Miami square off Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. at Goggin Ice Arena. Miami will attempt to win its fourth straight game over UNO on its home ice.
