DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — Miami got back to playing its brand of hockey — an aggressive, relentless grind-it-out style — in the third period of the game against Western Michigan on Friday, Feb. 22.

The RedHawks picked up right where they left off in the series finale Saturday, Feb. 23, at Steve Cady Arena.

Miami scorched the Broncos for five first-period goals and equaled a school record for wins in a season with an 8-1 win in Central College Hockey Association play.

"The third period last night was a big starting point for what we like to call the 'second season,' " said Miami junior Brian Kaufman, who had two goals and an assist. "We have X amount of games left. It's a new season. It doesn't matter what we've done in the past. The third period (Friday night) was a good segue into that, and we just kind of went from there tonight."

Andy Miele added two goals and an assist and Nathan Davis (goal, two assists) and Tommy Wingels (three assists) also had three-point nights for the RedHawks, who improved to 27-6-1 overall and 19-6-1 in the Central College Hockey Association.

The 1992-93 and 1996-97 Miami teams also won 27 games.

"We played with a lot of energy and we executed," said Miami coach Enrico Blasi, whose team trails Michigan by three points in the CCHA standings with two games to play. "We played the way we finished the third period (Friday) night."

Miele opened the scoring just 4:06 into the game and the floodgates opened from there. Pat Cannone, Nino Musitelli, Ryan Jones and Nathan Davis followed with first-period tallies, sending freshman goaltender Jerry Kuhn to the bench in favor of Riley Gil 17:13 into the game.

"They were able to capitalize and jump on us right away," said WMU coach Jim Culhane, whose team fell to 7-23-3, 3-21-2. "They've created a wonderful enviroment here. It reminds me of Yost (Ice Arena at the University of Michigan). We were hoping to weather the storm and start the game well and obviously we didn't do that."

Miami built a 7-0 lead before the Broncos spoiled Jeff Zatkoff's bid for back-to-back shutouts with a second-period goal. Zatkoff, who made 26 saves, lowered his nation's-best goals-against average to 1.63.

Jones, Musitelli and Jarod Palmer recorded two-point nights for Miami, which had 14 different players reach the scoresheet.

Miami is right back on the ice Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Ohio State and wraps up the regular season Friday, Feb. 29, at home vs. the Buckeyes. Miami has a first-round bye in the CCHA Tourament and will host a second-round series March 14-15.

?This time of year to play a game like that and execute like that, it?s exciting,? Davis said. ? ? If we can consistently bring energy and confidence and execution like we did tonight, it?s gonna be a fun postseason for us.?