OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 18 Omaha hockey team erased a two-goal deficit in the final regulation of the game to forge a 3-3 tie with Miami on Friday night at Baxter Arena.
With the Mavericks trailing 3-1 and just seconds after having a goal called back for goaltender interference,
Zach Jordan finally got credit for a goal when he punched in the rebound of a shot by
Nolan Sullivan at 19:06.
The Mavericks then tied the game when
Kevin Conley skated to the side of the net and squeezed the puck past Miami goalie Grant Valentine at 19:50.
Miami picked up an extra standings point in the NCHC-mandated 3-on-3 overtime. With
Joey Abate off with a penalty and Sullivan breaking his stick, Ryan Savage poked home a rebound past
Isaiah Saville.
The Mavericks are now 6-3-2 overall and 1-1-0-0/0 in the NCHC, putting them in sixth place. Miami is 3-6-3 overall and 1-3-1-1/0 in the conference, good for fifth.
The Mavericks opened the scoring just 3:28 into the game when Sullivan got loose for a spinning backhander that beat Valentine over his glove for his second of the season.
The RedHawks pushed back, getting a power play goal from Casey Gilling at 9:02 and an even-strength tally from Savage at 14:31 to lead 2-1 after one.
The Mavericks authored the biggest moment of the second period, successfully killing off a five-minute major to
John Schuldt to keep the deficit at one with a period to go.
Saville made 19 saves in the game while Valentine had 24 as the Mavericks outshot the RedHawks, 27-22.
The series concludes on Saturday at 7:07 p.m.
GAME NOTES:
- With a goal, Conley tied his career high for goals in a season (6), set last year.
- Sullivan won 16 of 22 face offs to lead all players. The freshman ranks fourth in the NCAA and second in the NCHC with a face off percentage of .660.
- The Mavericks were 0-for-2 on the power play while Miami was 1-for-3.
- Omaha remained undefeated when scoring the first goal of the game (5-0-2).
Three stars: 1. Ryan Savage/Miami (1-2-3); 2.
Nolan Sullivan/Omaha (1-1-2); 3. Karch Bachman/Miami (0-2-2)