The Miami RedHawks fell 5-2 to the No. 9 Western Michigan Broncos on Friday night time at Lawson Area in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This was their first highway lack of the season and dropped their file to 7-2-0 (1-2-0 in NCHC play).
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Miami jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an Ilia Morozov aim, however after that, it was all Western Michigan, with objectives from Liam Valente, Theo Walberg, Zach Nehring, Zach Bookman, and Sam Huck. Morozov later scored his second of the sport (sixth aim of the season) within the third interval.
Miami’s Matteo Drobac was peppered with photographs all sport, stopping 35 of 40 photographs, however many got here off of unhealthy defensive lapses from his workforce.
Western Michigan’s Hampton Slukynsky was again to himself on Friday night time, stopping numerous grade-A probabilities for a complete of 20 saves on 22 photographs.
Sport Recap
After killing two early penalties and spending a lot of the opening 10 minutes in their very own zone, Miami discovered the primary aim. Morozov carried the puck in, drove the web, and compelled it residence together with his lengthy attain to provide the RedHawks a 1-0 lead.
After one interval, Western Michigan led 10-7 in photographs. Each groups went 0-for-2 on the ability play regardless of getting high quality probabilities.
Miami had a golden alternative on a five-minute energy play early within the second, however couldn’t capitalize, and after this, the momentum flipped to the house workforce. Miami acquired just one shot on aim throughout that five-minute energy play, a one-timer from Casper Nassen.
Valente evened issues up on an influence play halfway by the second interval, completely sniping it previous Drobac.
Defensive breakdowns continued for Miami, and it lastly value them, as Western Michigan continued the onslaught with two unanswered objectives from Walberg and Nehring. Walberg wristed one previous Drobac after which, just a few moments later, Nehring cleaned up a rebound off a shot from Grant Slukynsky.
By way of 40 minutes of play, Western Michigan had greater than double the variety of Miami photographs on aim at a 31-14 margin.
Miami’s energy play struggled but once more to start out the third interval, after which two extra unanswered objectives got here from Western Michigan: Bookman and Huck, which despatched the Lawson Lunatics wild.
Morozov would later rating a power-play aim to make it 5-2 late, nevertheless it didn’t matter by that time.
Miami completed 1-for-6 on the ability play and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill. There have been 12 penalties in whole, with a variety of stick infractions all through the night time. Miami blocked 9 photographs in comparison with Western Michigan’s six, however the Broncos dominated the faceoff circle, successful 43 attracts to Miami’s 25 (36.8%).
It was a troublesome night time for Justin Stupka within the circle, successful simply 1-of-13, whereas Ethan Hay and Morozov have been about even. Slukynsky managed issues for Western Michigan, successful 14-of-20.
Broncos Forecheck Too A lot
Miami simply couldn’t deal with Western Michigan’s forecheck all sport and was merely outworked in all areas. The defensive stress on the blue line was robust for the RedHawks to handle, and the offensive spark for Western Michigan actually took off after killing that five-minute energy play. Miami didn’t have that very same leap all through the lineup, as solely the highest line confirmed any constant offensive zone time.
This is similar ultimate rating as Miami’s first lack of the season to Arizona State two weekends in the past. They bounced again the following night time in that collection, they usually’ll hope to do the identical once more on Saturday.
Sport 2 comes Saturday night time at 6:05 PM EST, when Miami seems to be to lastly earn a win at Lawson Area for the primary time in a very long time.
