6:06 into overtime: Alec Martinez just ripped a slapshot from just inside the blue line and off of Pearce’s glove to clinch the game for Miami. The RedHawks just swarmed the ice in celebration of the comeback win. They’ll face the winner of Michigan vs. Northern Michigan in the CCHA Championship game.

2.3 seconds remaining in the third: WOW. After 55 minutes of no goals, we just had another within a few minutes. Miami pulled Zatkoff with 40 seconds left, but struggled to get any offense going until Mitch Ganzak netted one on a desperate shot with a big crowd in front of the crease. The crowd just went insane and this game is headed to overtime now.

4:30 remaining in the third period: Well the Fighting Irish didn’t score there, but less than a couple minutes later they put it in. Third-liner Evan Rankin found the back of the net after his backhanded shot barely tipped off of Miami goalie Jeff Zatkoff’s glove.

6:11 remaining in the third period: It just looked like Notre Dame captain Mark Van Guilder broke the game’s scoreless streak. Except the senior’s shot — from the center of the left circle on the power play — didn’t completely cross the goal line. The senior wristed a bullet top shelf, but the puck hit the crossbar, bounced nearly straight down and failed to cross the red line. The no-goal call after the review garnered the loudest cheers of the night from the Miami-heavy crowd.

End of the second period: So much for the RedHawks being close to scoring because this one is still scoreless after two. The stands have filled up a little more and the crowd is a little louder, but the atmosphere will probably stay relatively tame until someone finally breaks through with what would likely be the game-deciding goal.

End of the first period: The first frame just came to a close and, well, it’s still scoreless, but Miami looks pretty close to breaking through — Pearce has had to come up with some pretty great saves to keep the game even. Notre Dame’s offense, on the other hand, hasn’t gotten nearly as much going and has tallied just three shots through 20 minutes.

5:00 left in the first period: This game’s been a pretty defensive and physical one so far and no pucks have found the back of the net yet even though both teams have had a pair of power-play opportunities. Notre Dame goalie Jordan Pearce has stood on his head, especially when the Fighting Irish were down a man, keeping the nation’s top offense in check.

The first of two CCHA semifinal games is about to get underway between the Fighting Irish and RedHawks. Joe Louis Arena is relatively empty — the lower bowl is about half filled — but both school bands are already clashing from opposite sides of the arena.

Friday, March 21st, 2008 - 4:36 pm | CCHA Live Blogging