OXFORD, Ohio – For a three-goal loss that was completely one-sided in the first two periods, Miami found a way to make the final 20 minutes interesting.

No. 5 Denver scored the first three goals in a 4-1 win over the RedHawks at Cady Arena on Saturday, as the teams split their weekend series.

The Pioneers (12-6-4) were a huge favorite, so winning one was a bit of a victory for the RedHawks. But since MU was .500 after the first half of the season, it needs to make up games somewhere, and this weekend wasn’t it.

This series was actually more of a reinforcement that, while the RedHawks (9-9-2) are improved over 2016-17, Miami’s overall talent does not match up with the NCAA’s elite.

RECAP: Denver scored twice in the first period and once more in the first minute of the final stanza to take a 3-0 lead.

The shots were 28-5 in favor of the Pioneers after 40 minutes.

But then it got interesting.

Miami pulled the goalie five minutes into the third period.

The RedHawks, who were anemic on the power play all night, thrived with the extra attacker.

Kiefer Sherwood broke after an extended 6-on-5 to make it 3-1.

And Miami drew a penalty on the goal, setting up a power play.

The crowd, comatose after the early domination, was suddenly into the game.

But the man-advantage fizzled and Denver eventually scored an empty netter to seal it.

Miami did outshoot Denver, 20-5 in the last 20 minutes.

Miami’s Casey Gilling (photo by Cathy Lachmann/BoB).

STATS: Sherwood and Casey Gilling both extended points streaks to three games. Gilling is 2-3-5 in that stretch.

– Rare to see the starting/lone goalie of team log just 51:38.

– In the you’ll-see-something-new-every-time-you-go-to-the-rink department, Miami iced the puck twice while on a 6-on-5. The NCAA rule is that when a team ices the puck, no one on said team is allowed to leave, but apparently an exception is made for goalies. Both times the RedHawks did this they were able to pull one skater.

THOUGHTS: Not much to add from Friday’s game. Denver is more talented and came out aiming to prove that. Cudos to Miami for battling back in the third after an anemic first 40 minutes. And they were anemic.

GRADES

FORWARDS: D. One goal only after the outcome had been decided. Gordie Green and Josh Melnick were both held without a shot.

DEFENSEMEN: D+. Too many high-percentage scoring chances for DU at this corps’ hands.

GOALTENDING: B. It was a shooting gallery for Ryan Larkin the first two periods. He made a couple of excellent saves and is certainly not accountable for the loss.

LINEUP CHANGES: Only one: Zach LaValle was in at forward, replacing Willie Knierim. Knierim had dressed in the last nine games, and LaValle had sat for three in a row.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Splits against top-10 teams are nice, but when you’re .500 heading into the break, at some point you have to sweep someone.

Denver is an exceptional team, and Miami will have to gain ground against someone else.