Mitch Ganzak (25) takes aim at the Canisius goal in Friday's contest at Steve Cady Arena. (Alex Turvy)
The Miami University RedHawks overwhelmed Canisius with 64 shots on goal in their 3-1 victory Saturday night, completing a series sweep after Friday's 5-1 victory.
In each game, the 'Hawk defense dominated from start to finish. Friday night, Miami (3-1) only allowed the Golden Griffins one shot on goal in the first period. In the same amount of time, the Red and White scored twice, once by Justin Mercier and the other by Mitch Ganzak.
"When you have the puck that many times, (your offense) is probably your best defense," said Head Coach Enrico Blasi. "Our guys did a nice job of being in the right spot and not giving them good chances."
Mercier started the offensive barrage on a power play halfway through the first period. Marty Guerin fed him as he was cutting through the slot, and Mercier put it away to give the 'Hawks a 1-0 lead.
Ganzak's goal to double the lead came less than three minutes later when, though shorthanded, Nathan Davis stole the puck and hit Ganzak streaking down the ice. Ganzak faked a pass and put it past Canisius goaltender Bryce Luker.
"When the defense is breaking the puck out well, it helps the offense get into a constant rhythm and stay on the constant attack," said freshman Jarod Palmer.
Early in the second period, the RedHawks continued to build the lead when Ryan Jones scored on a power play, deflecting a rebound past Luker for the 3-0 lead.
The lone blemish on netminder Charlie Effinger's night came a minute later when freshman Jason Weeks scored for Canisius, making the score 3-1. Palmer restored the lead to three, scoring a one-timer at 15:14 for his first career goal for the Red and White.
"I am just trying to have fun out there," Palmer said. "I listen to the older guys and learn from them. Playing with Davis and Jones and being on a power play with Ganzak and Martinez, it's an awesome experience."
Gary Steffes made his first mark on the stat sheet a couple minutes later, wrapping a shot behind Luker to finish the scoring, 5-1.
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Canisius changed goaltenders for Saturday's game and Golden Griffin freshman Andrew Loewen proceeded to frustrate the Red and White for most of the game.
Despite outshooting Canisius 21-7, it was Miami who went into the locker room after the first period down 1-0.
"We were so close, a bounce here, a bounce there," Blasi said. "Those are things we haven't worked on much. When you only practice for two weeks, those are areas we don't really focus on."
When Miami couldn't clear the puck on a Canisius power play late in the first, freshman Josh Heidinger one-timed it from an awkward angle on the right side and beat sophomore Jeff Zatkoff for the go-ahead score.
"I thought Zatkoff, after that first goal, really settled down," Blasi said. "He had a couple of big shots and when you don't see that many shots, it's really tough on a goaltender."
The RedHawks continued to fire shot after shot on Loewen, who played like a brick wall until Martinez fired a shot low and hard that found its way through a maze of bodies and past Loewen to tie the score 1-1.
"We knew it was going to come, and when it came, we knew we were going to get a few more," Davis said. "The feeling is more when is it going to come rather than is it going to come."
The 'Hawks did not let up on their assault and found the back of the net again four seconds before time ran out in the second.
In a scrum in front of the net, the puck popped loose and Palmer tapped it to Ray Eichenlaub, who jammed it past Loewen for the 2-1 lead.
After assisting on the first two goals, Nathan Davis notched one of his own early in the third for the final 3-1 score.
The goal came when Palmer wired a pass from behind the net to Davis, who smacked it over Loewen's right shoulder.
"We are an aggressive team," Davis said. "We are still real hungry now and guys want to prove themselves, especially early in the season."
The Red and White begin their defense of the CCHA regular-season championship next week when travel to Michigan.
"We are very excited," Blasi said. "Going into the Yost (Ice Arena) is a crazy place to play and I am sure they want a piece of us after what we did to them last year."
Miami beat Michigan 4-2 and 4-3 in their season series last year.
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