Miami takes game one in Colorado Springs tonight by a final score of 3-1. Three different RedHawks scored with sophomore Justin Greenberg getting his first of the season.

With the win, Miami (17-9-1, 10-6-1-1 t2nd NCHC) moves into a tie for second place with Omaha in the ultra-competitive NCHC and creates more distance between itself and 5th place Denver, who lost 4-2 at North Dakota. Miami is now a full five points clear of the Pioneers in the race for home ice in the NCHC playoffs.

Overall, tonight was an impressive effort by Miami against an opponent that did not quit. Despite falling behind early, Miami really took over the game after about the 10 minute mark of the 1st period, and while they only tallied three goals, the game never felt in doubt. In other words, it never seemed like Colorado College would pose a real threat.

CC opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. Luc Gerdes picked up the garbage in front of Miami netminder Jay Williams and found twine at 6:19. But, Miami would get it back immediately when Cody Murphy tallied his 11th goal of the season, a powerplay marker for the RedHawks just 26 seconds later. Murphy, who was camped in front and redirected a wrist shot from Anthony Louis, has now scored 11 goals in his past 14 games. And, he would have had another, but it was waved off after a lengthy video review.

In the second, Miami absolutely dominated possession but could muster just one goal, albeit a beauty, from Riley Barber who dangled around a defender before roofing a perfect wrister over the shoulder of CC goaltender Tyler Marble at 16:22.

In the third period, it was more of the same as Miami largely dictated play. After a shaky first period, Jay Williams was stellar in net and Justin Greenberg scored his first goal of the season off a ridiculous backhand saucer pass from Kevin Morris on a 2-on-1 rush at 9:09.

With the victory, and the completion of the night’s other league contests, the current NCHC standings look like this.

1. North Dakota – 34 points

2. MIAMI – 32 points

2. Omaha – 32 points (Miami has tiebreaker)

4. Minnesota-Duluth – 31 points

5. Denver – 27 points

6. St. Cloud – 22 points

6. Western Michigan – 22 points (SCSU has tiebreaker)

8. Colorado College – 4 points

Miami and Colorado College go at it again tomorrow night at 9 PM EST. The game can be seen on NCHC.TV and of course Greg Waddell will have the call, well, maybe via Miami All-Access.

Random thoughts and stats:

– Miami outshot the Tigers 34-23.

– Jay Williams is now 15-4 on the season.

– Riley Barber really turned it up tonight. His compete level was high from the drop of the puck. That’s extremely encouraging.

– Three stars of the night: 1. Jay Williams (22 saves), 2. Riley Barber (1-0-1, 4 shots), 3. Tyler Marble (31 saves)

– Miami blocked 16 CC shots (Caito 4, Richart 3)

– Miami was dominant in the faceoff circle winning 44 to CC’s 23. Coleman (13-4) and Kuraly (11-2) led the way.

– Miami was 1 for 4 on the powerplay but did allow a shorthanded goal.

– I loved how Rico used Schmit and Lemirande tonight. Putting the Crash Cousins together for extended periods of time combined with altitude was effective at wearing down CC in the 2nd period. There were times that the Tigers could not get the puck out of their zone.

– Austin Czarnik registered his 26th assist on Barber’s goal.

– Miami has a season’s-best four game unbeaten streak (3-0-1).

Riley Barber notched his 13th goal of the season while shorthanded to give Miami a 2-1 lead heading to the third period. Miami completely owned about 18 minutes of the period and at times had possession in the CC end for minutes at a time. I’d like to see more finish out of this team, but the effort has been outstanding tonight.

The line of Schmit, Lemirande, Coleman/Murphy was huge (no pun intended) in the period. Rico rewarded the Crash Cousins with more ice time throughout the period. Wearing a team down at altitude with that size is an excellent coaching maneuver.

Other thoughts…

• We said earlier that Riley Barber looked sharp tonight. And, as usual, we were right. Barber’s sick wrister from between the circles after a toe drag/dangle was criminal. Keep it up big fella.

• Crash Cousins are big. We haven’t seen a ton of the two of them together this year, but tonight, they are dominating the Tigers in the offensive zone digging out pucks and showing more offensive prowess than I can recall seeing from them this year. Well done.

• Jay Williams has found his game. After not being tested for what seemed to be the entire second period, Williams came up big as CC mounted several good chances late in the period. He looks much sharper.

2-1 Miami after two. Let’s finish this and get ready for tomorrow night!

After one period of play in Colorado Springs, #7 Miami and Colorado College are tied at 1.

Miami allowed its 3rd shorthanded goal early in the period at CC’s Scott Wamsganz converted a mess out front of Jay Williams off a rush.

Miami would answer right back on the same powerplay as Cody Murphy recorded his 11th goal of the season off a tip in front of an Anthony Louis wrist shot from between the circles. Matt Caito notched the other assist.

Other thoughts…

• Dornbrock. A huge hit along the boards to break up a CC rush. He has also blocked shots and looks physical tonight.
• Czarnik’s back checking effort on the play that ended up being the CC goal was impressive. His effort is the type of thing you want to see out of your senior captain.
• Riley Barber’s compete level is up tonight. He made a couple outstanding stretch passes taking advantage of the big ice.
• Jay Williams rebound control is “off” at best. He looks a bit lost on the big ice and doesn’t seem to be playing the angles nor seeing the puck very well.
• Taylor Richart continues to do the little things. He made a big block of a CC shot on their last powerplay to end the first period.

So far, so good. Miami looks smooth and in control. Hopefully they are well hydrated to compete for 60 minutes at 6,000 feet.

More to come from Colorado Springs.