Josh Melnick (37) celebrates after his game-clinching goal (photo by Cathy Lachmann).

OXFORD, Ohio – After a fairly light night the first 40 minutes, Jay Williams faced a shooting gallery in the third period.

Williams turned aside 18 shots in the final stanza and 31 total in Miami’s 3-0 shutout of Colorado College at Cady Arena on Friday.

It was Williams’ first shutout of the season and the eighth of the senior’s career, as he is in fifth place all-time on the school’s leaderboard.

Miami goalie Jay Williams (photo by Cathy Lachmann).

The RedHawks had to kill seven power plays, including a pair of majors that included an extended 4-on-3 and 5-on-3.

Miami (14-14-3) scored one goal in each period and did so in three different ways – on the power play, at even strength and shorthanded.

Senior forward Sean Kuraly sent a one-time pass to freshman forward Kiefer Sherwood, who ripped a shot past Tigers goalie Jacob Nehama 8:40 into the first period.

After being assessed a major penalty, Miami senior defenseman Taylor Richart’s slap shot beat Nehama with 10:33 left in the middle period for the RedHawks’ first shorthanded goal of the season.

Freshman forward Josh Melnick sealed it by going top shelf from the slot with 1:32 remaining in regulation.

Miami forward Josh Melnick (photo by Cathy Lachmann).

Williams faced a couple of high-percentage shots in the first two periods and several A-plus chances to close out the win.

Colorado College (6-24-1) was on the power play for 6:46 of the third period, with nearly two minutes coming while Miami had just three players on the ice. The Tigers had 13:49 of total power play time vs. 1:33 for the RedHawks.

Despite the lopsided man-advantage time, Miami finished 1-for-2 on the power play and 7 of 7 on the penalty kill plus a shorthanded goal.

Melnick led the RedHawks with two points on a goal and an assist, giving him 11 points in 12 games. Sherwood scored for the fifth time in Miami’s last seven contests.

Miami defenseman Taylor Richart (photo by Cathy Lachmann).

For Richart, it was his second career goal in 128 games, with his other coming vs. Cornell on Dec. 29, 2014.

The RedHawks were in a three-way tie for fourth place in the NCHC entering Friday, and with Nebraska-Omaha losing, Miami is now tied with only Minnesota-Duluth for the final home spot in the conference tournament.

The RedHawks are now locked into a four, five or six seed.

Despite the win, Miami is in a four-way tie for 20th in the PairWise rankings.

Colorado College and Miami wrap up their weekend series at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.