Miami Hockey Hosts Ohio State in Valentine's Day Clash

The No. 2-ranked Miami RedHawks put their league-best 17-4-2 record on the line on Tuesday as they host the Ohio State Buckeyes at 7:35 p.m. at Goggin Ice Arena. A victory would give Miami its first Central Collegiate Hockey Association title since the 1992-93 season. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and all fans are encouraged to arrive early.

THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: Miami plays its penultimate home game of the regular season, meeting Ohio State for the fifth time this year. In 14 home contests, the RedHawks are 10-2-2 at Goggin Ice Arena this season and are outscoring their opponents, 47-25, in those games. The seating capacity of Goggin Ice Arena is 2,200, but the RedHawks have drawn an average of 2,598 fans per contest, including nine crowds of 2,850, the standing-room-only capacity for the building.

HOVERING AT THE TOP: Miami has spent 11 consecutive weeks ranked in the top five, including the program's first-ever trip to No. 1 two weeks ago, and has never been ranked lower than fourth during that time. The RedHawks cracked the top 10 on Nov. 21 and jumped to No. 2 on Dec. 5 after sweeping then-No. 3 Michigan. Miami was unranked to start the season but entered the polls on Oct. 24 and has been ranked ever since.

LAST TIME ON THE ICE: Prior to a bye-weekend last week, Miami hosted Alaska Fairbanks and split a two-game series with the Nanooks. On the strength of a three-goal first period, UAF took Friday night's contest, 4-3, before Miami rebounded with a 2-1 win on Saturday. Friday's win for UAF marked the third time this season that they knocked off the nation's top-ranked squad. They previously defeated Minnesota (Oct. 14) and Michigan (Oct. 28).