DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — The Miami University hockey team's fall out of the No. 1 spot in the national polls has not affected the RedHawks in the least, according to head coach Enrico Blasi.

Miami slipped to No. 2 in the USCHO.com/CSTV poll (behind Michigan) and to No. 3 in the USA Today/USA Magazine poll (behind Michigan and Denver) following its split at Bowling Green last weekend.

The coaches and players don't even talk about the rankings, Blasi said.

As for their 4-2 loss Friday, "Our leadership does a pretty good job of putting things behind them and concentrating on the task at hand," he said.

Checking out the Mavs

Miami's next opponent is Nebraska-Omaha. The RedHawks will wrap up their streak of eight consecutive games away from Steve Cady Arena with contests tonight and Saturday night.

The RedHawks are 2-0 this season against the Mavericks, outscoring them 12-4 in a pair of late October victories in Oxford.

"They're a quick team with a lot of skill, a team that's always going to play their best," Blasi said of Nebraska-Omaha, which stands 9-10-3 overall, 6-7-3 in the CCHA.

The Mavericks swept the Western Michigan Broncos last Saturday and Sunday, winning 6-3 and 4-2, respectively.

Nebraska-Omaha senior Bryan Marshall is tied for the CCHA lead in points with 31 and he leads the nation with 23. Senior Mick Lawrence leads the Mavericks in goals with 13.

Speaking of stats

Miami continues to lead the nation in scoring margin with a plus-2.59 goal rating. The RedHawks are scoring 4.23 goals per game and allowing only 1.64 ... Miami has been dominant in the third period this season, outscoring the opposition 41-5. The RedHawks have not allowed a third-period goal since Dec. 8 against Alaska ... Junior goaltender Jeff Zatkoff ranks second in the nation in goals-against average (1.59) ... Senior Ryan Jones continues to lead the RedHawks in scoring (26 points) and goals (17). He is tied for second in the nation in goals.

Injury report

Miami will be without the services of two players — senior forward Nathan Davis and junior defenseman Ray Eichenlaub — this weekend.

Davis has played in only eight games this season. The All-American who led the RedHawks with 50 points last season is battling a back injury.

Eichenlaub, who has three assists in 18 games, was injured at Bowling Green.

Blasi said he hopes to have both players back by the end of January.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.