Quick Hitter

Here's a Quick Hitter for Halloween.

• Last night, #1 Miami held on to defeat Northern Michigan at the Berry Events Center way up in Marquette, Mich. by a score of 4-3. After a scoreless first period, Miami broke the game open with four consecutive goals to lead 4-0 after 2. Miami's explosive offense has already logged three periods this season in which they have netted four goals.
  
• After the second period, the RedHawks had a 30-16 shots-on-goal advantage. Junior Justin Vaive (Toronto, Ont.) scored two goals just 41 seconds apart to get the RedHawks going. However, Northern Michigan would mount a comeback in the third. And apparently, the number of the night was 41 because after pulling starting goaltender, #41 Brian Stewart, the Wildcats scored 41 seconds into the third and eventually added two more to make it a game. Northern pulled their backup netminder, but were unable to add the tying goal.
  
• With the win, Miami moves to 5-1-1 and NMU fell to 1-3-1. Game two of the weekend series is set for this evening. Faceoff is 7:35pm again from Marquette, Mich.

• Also Friday, Ohio State dropped a 3-1 decision in South Bend, Ind. to #8 Notre Dame. The Buckeyes got on the scoreboard first when Junior John Albert (Concord, Ohio) jammed home a powerplay goal at 13:04 of the first period. The Irish would respond just 1:49 later when Calle Ridderwall matched Albert's effort with a powerplay goal of his own. Dan Kissel would add the game-winning goal on the powerplay for the Irish in the third period and Bill Maday added an empty-netter making the final 3-1 in favor of Notre Dame.
• Ohio State falls to 2-5 (1-2 CCHA) while the Irish improve to 4-3 (1-0 CCHA). Tonight's series finale gets an early start. The puck drops at 5:05pm from the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. The Buckeyes will be looking to continue their solid play on Saturday nights. Sophomore Cal Heeter (St. Louis Mo.) will once again get the start in net for Ohio State. He is 2-1 with a 1.68 GAA so far this season.

• The University of Denver and Marc Cheverie suffered a blow last night when the record-setting goaltender was severely injured during the Pioneers 4-3 victory over Minnesota State. Cheverie, who entered with three consecutive shutouts and a scoreless streak of 203 minutes, 19 seconds, saw his streak come to an end 32 seconds into the second period. He broke Mannino's record of 208:42, set in 2005. Cheverie, was injured by Maverick Justin Jokinen's skate that inadvertently caught him in a vulnerable position. According to DU head coach, George Gwozdecky, "(Cheverie) went to the hospital and they have it stitched up. Nothing broken, but it's a fairly deep cut, so it cut some of the muscle. He's probably going to be out a few weeks. Could be two weeks. Could be more." Best wishes to Cheverie for a quick recovery. (Denver Post)
  

• Tonight in the League, the Detroit Red Wings conclude their western roadtrip with a visit to Calgary and the Pengrowth Saddledome. Coming off a 6-5 shootout loss in Edmonton, the Wings come to Calgary an ordinary 4-4-3 and minus both Johan Franzen and now Valterri Filppula who broke his right wrist against the Oilers and will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Meanwhile, the Flames conclude their five-game homestand looking to improve to 4-1. Calgary had won the first three games by scoring five or more goals in each game, but ran into the hot Colorado Avalanche who dealt the Flames just their third loss of the season, 3-2. The Flames scored two quick first period goals, but despite outshooting the Avs 32-14 for the game, the Flames could not solve Craig Anderson again and Colorado had plenty of time to rally for the win.
• In other Flames news, Eklund of hockeybuzz.com says that former Blue Jacket Ray Whitney could be headed to Calgary. Whitney would add a great level of skill and veteran leadership to what is already one of the league's highest scoring teams. If true, this would be a quality acquisition for the Flames. (Whitney to Flames?)