OXFORD, Ohio – (RV) Omaha Hockey (12-10-0, 8-4-0 NCHC) earned its second consecutive sweep of Miami (3-17-2, 0-12-0 NCHC) and went 4-0 against it in 2024-25 following the 3-1 victory in the series finale at Goggin Ice Center on Saturday night.
The Mavericks have won six of their last seven games in NCHC play, their fourth straight game and sixth over their last seven.
The opening period seemed slow to start, as neither team applied much pressure during the first 10 minutes of play. However, halfway through the first period, Miami started to apply pressure.
Eventually, forward John Emmons slipped the puck behind freshman goaltender
Kevin Reidler, giving Miami a 1-0 lead.
Omaha again trailed in the first period as Miami scored first in both series games.
Miami forward Colby Ambrosio was called for slashing, and the Mavericks had the game's first opportunity with an extra skater.
Sophomore forward
Charlie Lurie stood just behind the faceoff circle across from the teams' benches in the Miami zone. As the Mavericks tried to execute a play, Lurie received a pass from junior defenseman
Jacob Guevin.
He then sent it cross-ice to defenseman
Griffin Ludtke, who took a shot to the center of the faceoff circle. It hit goaltender Brett Miller's pad as he came out of the crease, leaving a wide-open goal for graduate forward
Brock Bremer 19:01 into the first period.
As the Mavericks played at a higher pace in the final minute, a weight fell on the RedHawks' shoulders.
Graduate forward
Sam Stange could handle the puck just to the right side of the NCHC logo behind Miller's cage in the Miami zone. Stange then slung it to freshman forward
Liam Watkins, who stood in a nearly symmetrical spot to the graduate forward.
Watkins showed no hesitation and sent a beautiful pass to junior defenseman
Dylan Gratton, who let it rip, finding nothing but netting with only .5 seconds remaining in the period. After potting his first last night, Gratton's second goal of the season went right past Miller's glove side to extend it to 3-1.
This was Gratton's second career game-winning goal and the first time he had scored in back-to-back games through his 91 collegiate contests.
The Pottstown, Pa. native's goal proved to be the game-winner after it was all said and done, but the Mavericks were not finished.
Nearing the halfway point of the game, Ludtke, who had already given one helper earlier, was along the penalty box side of the ice and connected with graduate forward
Brady Risk, who came up along the boards.
Ludtke (4A) is now on a three-game point streak.
Risk then sent a shot on the net, hoping for the best, which he found in his defenseman, Guevin. The Drummondville, Quebec native tipped the deflection from Risk's shot and put his fourth goal of the season in the books at 9:51 into the second period.
Reidler made his fourth career start and made 27 saves on 28 shots against the 6-foot-6, 206-pound netminder.
The Mavericks outscored the RedHawks 18-3 in four games this season.
Omaha returns to the Kemp Ice at Baxter Arena when it hosts No. 15 St. Cloud State in a two-game tilt on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25. Both games begin at 7:07 p.m. CT.
