#1/2 North Dakota (17-2-3, 8-1-2-2 NCHC) at Miami (6-11-4, 3-6-2-1)
Jan. 18, 2020
Oxford, Ohio
Steve Cady Arena (3,642)
Saturday: 6:07 pm CT
Series: UND leads 16-7-4 (.667)
This year: UND leads, 2-0-1
(Tied, 4-4, Friday in Oxford)
 
TV
Web: nchc.tv
 
RADIO
PxP: Tim Hennessy
Radio: 96.1 FM (Flagship)
& Home of Economy Radio  Network
Web: FightingHawks.com 
 
TONIGHT
First-place North Dakota aims to extend its road unbeaten streak when it wraps the season series against Miami. UND's win, coupled with a Minnesota Duluth loss last night has North Dakota out to a five-point lead in the NCHC standings.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Cole Smith's goal with just over four minutes left in regulation gave North Dakota its first lead but Miami rallied to tie it before a Grant Mismash shootout goal secured the extra point for UND in an official 4-4 tie Friday night at Cady Arena. UND trailed 2-0 just 89 seconds into the game and played catch up the entire game until Smith's goal. Jordan Kawaguchi (1G, 2A) and Matt Kiersted (3A) each had three-point nights for North Dakota. 
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will only be available for viewing via streaming at NCHC.tv.
 
All UND men's hockey games, home and away, can be heard on stations across the UND Sports Home of Economy Radio Network, as well as through the iHeart Radio app. The flagship station for the network is 96.1 FM (The Fox). Longtime broadcaster Tim Hennessy, in his 41st season as the voice of UND men's hockey, calls the action while Steve Olson provides color analysis.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow along with the action live by following @UNDmhockey and @UNDInsider on Twitter. Fans can also read the action via live chat via the Grand Forks Herald and beat writer Brad Schlossman.
 
SERIES HISTORY
North Dakota owns a 16-7-4 edge in the all-time series with Miami. Last season, UND split in Miami in the only series with the RedHawks and this year UND already has a pair of wins after a Nov. 8-9 sweep in Grand Forks.
 
ROAD DAMAGE
North Dakota brings a seven-game road unbeaten streak into tonight's game. UND is 5-1-3 on the road this season, already matching last season's road win total (5) and its unbeaten streak on the road is its longest since 2016-17 (Nov. 18 - Jan. 27).
 
ROAD RAGE
Despite last night's quick 2-0 deficit, North Dakota holds a 32-15 edge in the first period this season on its opponents. UND is out-scoring its opponent, 13-6, in the first period of road games this season.
 
POWER PLAY PROFICIENCY ON THE ROAD
North Dakota is humming along at a 25.4% clip on the power play in road games this season. UND got a pair of man-advantage tallies Friday and now has nine PPG away from home in 35 chances.
 
MIAMI MATT
Matt Kiersted tied a career best with three assists last night against Miami. He previous three-point night was also against Miami, earlier this season (Nov. 9). He has nine career points against Miami in seven games.
 
SHOTS ON... WHOA
North Dakota's defense has allowed just 76 shots on goal in the last five games combined. UND has kept its opponent under 15 SOG seven times this season (6-1-0).
 
FOUR-PLAY
North Dakota allowed four goals in a game for the fourth time this season, but has lost just one of those games (1-1-2). Conversely, UND tallied its 14th four-goal game on offense and hasn't suffered a single loss in those games (12-0-2).
 
PT FOR PT
Peter Thome came on in relief in net for the second time this season. He kicked aside seven of the eight shots he faced. He has stellar numbers against Miami in his career,  with a .915 save percentage, a 1.77 goals-against average and a 1-0-2 record.
 
CASH KAW
Jordan Kawaguchi has been money in the bank this season, especially in this current stretch. In his current six-game point streak, Kawaguchi has tallied 11 points with four multi-point games. He etched his fifth three-point game last night and has points in 16 of the last 18 games.
 
SHOOTOUT STATS
*North Dakota is now 4-3 in the shootout period all-time (since 2014-15)
*UND has won its last four shootouts.
*Friday was UND's first shootout since  Dec. 8, 2017.
*Peter Thome has stopped all six shots he's faced in shootouts in his career (2-2 last night).
*UND is 2-0 vs. Miami in shootouts all-time.
 
STILL NO. 1
UND  has now spent an entire month (since Dec. 9) atop the USCHO.com poll after Monday's release has it tied atop the rankings with Cornell. North Dakota slipped to No. 2 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls. North Dakota began the season at No. 18/RV. UND's No. 1 ranking was its first since Oct. 17, 2016.
 
THREE IN THE TOP 8
Three of the eight NCHC teams are ranked in the top eight in this week's USCHO.com poll. UND tops the poll for the fourth straight week with Denver moving up to No. 4. Minnesota Duluth is now eighth while  Western Michigan is receiving votes.