The Miami RedHawks' perfect 6-0-0 start in college hockey with overtime wins against Lindenwood

The Miami RedHawks have captured the attention of the college hockey world with a remarkable undefeated start to their 2025-26 season. Standing alone as the only team in NCAA Division I hockey with a perfect 6-0-0 record, the RedHawks have demonstrated resilience, offensive firepower, and clutch performance when it matters most. Their weekend sweep of Lindenwood, featuring back-to-back 5-4 overtime victories, has solidified their position as one of the nation’s most exciting teams to watch. With transfer additions making immediate impacts and a goaltender who hasn’t lost a start, Miami is rewriting expectations after a disappointing previous campaign.

The historic nature of this start cannot be understated. For a program that managed just three wins all of last season, the 6-0-0 beginning represents more than just a turnaround—it’s a complete transformation. Head coach Anthony Noreen’s vision for Miami hockey is taking shape before fans’ eyes, with each game revealing a team that refuses to quit regardless of how many times they fall behind. The Lindenwood series, in particular, showcased everything that makes this RedHawks squad special: determination, offensive creativity, and the ability to perform under pressure.

Ryan Smith’s explosive weekend powers Miami RedHawks’ undefeated start with overtime heroics

Ryan Smith’s performance during the Lindenwood series will be remembered as one of the defining moments of Miami’s undefeated start. The Quinnipiac transfer exploded for five points across the weekend sweep, including a hat trick in Saturday’s 5-4 overtime victory. Smith entered Saturday’s contest with just three goals in 39 collegiate appearances, then matched that total in a single night, finishing with a career-high eight shots on goal.

Smith’s overtime winner came with just over 90 seconds remaining in the extra period, capping off a sequence that perfectly encapsulated Miami’s relentless style. Ilia Morozov drove hard to the net, missed his initial opportunity, but refused to give up on the play. Chasing down his own rebound, Morozov stayed with the puck and delivered a perfect pass across to Smith, who buried the game-winner from point-blank range. The goal completed Smith’s hat trick, marking the first three-goal performance by a RedHawk since December 9, 2022.

“Thought he responded really well,” Noreen said after the game. “I thought he had some really good moments last night, but I just thought he had really good jump today, really good fight. We talked about it yesterday at this same time, and we all felt like he was the guy that was knocking on the door the most, that was bound to break out and have a weekend like he did last night and tonight.”

Noreen emphasized Smith’s work ethic and dedication to improvement, noting that the forward has been relentless in practice and spends extra time working on his craft. “He has been so competitive in practice, and he is a kid that works on his game,” Noreen explained. “Maybe he is the guy that works at it the most. He is a dog. He is in the shooting room, he stays on after practice, he does everything he is supposed to do and a lot more. You love when those guys get rewarded.”

Smith’s four-point performance on Saturday marked the first time a Miami player had posted such numbers since Matthew Barbolini on October 27, 2023. His emergence as an offensive catalyst has given the RedHawks another dangerous weapon in a lineup already featuring multiple players on impressive point streaks. The chemistry between Smith and his linemates, particularly Ethan Hay, has been developing rapidly, creating matchup problems for opposing defenses.

Miami RedHawks’ dramatic Lindenwood overtime wins showcase championship mentality

Both games against Lindenwood featured the same script: back-and-forth action, multiple lead changes, and overtime drama. Friday night’s opener saw the teams trade goals throughout before Miami prevailed 5-4 in overtime. Saturday’s rematch followed an identical pattern, with six combined goals scored in a wild second period alone.

The RedHawks demonstrated remarkable composure despite repeatedly surrendering leads. In Saturday’s game, Miami found themselves trailing 1-0 after Lindenwood’s Olivier Houde scored on a give-and-go play. Smith answered with his first goal, cutting inside on a 2-on-2 break and firing past goaltender Klayton Knapp to tie the game at 1-1. The teams continued exchanging blows throughout the night, with neither able to pull away.

Max Helgeson provided a crucial equalizer in the second period, tipping in a long shot from Smith after an extended offensive zone possession. The goal came against Helgeson’s former program, as he began his college career at Lindenwood when they competed at the ACHA level. Helgeson finished with his first multi-point game as a RedHawk and a season-high five shots on goal, showing the kind of contributions Miami has been receiving from its transfer additions.

Coach Noreen pointed to the sequence leading to Helgeson’s goal as the embodiment of Miami hockey’s identity moving forward. “That is what we want Miami hockey to look like,” Noreen said. “That right there encompasses who and what we want to be. Nothing pretty, but we get it, we hang onto it, we make a pass, we get it, we hang onto it, we make a pass. We do not throw it away; we make them defend, we get an offensive zone change, we win a race, we win a battle, we play. That is our hockey.”

Justin Stupka’s goal gave Miami a 4-3 lead in the second period, but Lindenwood’s Adam Raesler tied it once again to send the game to the third period knotted at 4-4. Both goaltenders stood tall in the final frame, with Miami’s Matteo Drobac and Lindenwood’s Liam Beerman (who entered after Knapp suffered an apparent injury) making key saves to force overtime.

The RedHawks’ ability to remain calm in chaotic situations impressed their head coach. “There were a million times where we could have come apart, and I felt like in those moments, we actually got more calm and came together,” Noreen said. “It is nice as a coach to not have to insert yourself and calm the guys down or feel like you need to call a timeout or settle them. I did not think there was any of that. I think there is just good team leadership right now, which we love.”

Matteo Drobac’s perfect start anchors Miami RedHawks’ undefeated college hockey run

While offensive fireworks have grabbed headlines, goaltender Matteo Drobac has been the steady presence backstopping Miami’s undefeated start. The netminder improved to 6-0-0 on the season with his performance against Lindenwood, stopping a career-high 33 shots in Saturday’s overtime victory. Drobac has yet to taste defeat this season, providing the RedHawks with confidence that they’re never out of any game.

Drobac made several massive saves late in Saturday’s contest, including a remarkable post-to-post attempt on Raesler’s tying goal in the second period. Though that particular shot found the net, Drobac’s positioning and effort kept Miami within striking distance throughout both games. His ability to bounce back after surrendering goals has been particularly impressive, showing the mental fortitude required of elite goaltenders.

The absence of freshman netminder Shika Gadzhiev, who has yet to be cleared by the NCAA despite already taking college courses, has placed additional pressure on Drobac to carry the workload. According to reporting from The Hockey Writers, there have been no further developments regarding Gadzhiev’s eligibility status. Even without a viable backup option, Drobac has continued to excel, giving coach Noreen no reason to look elsewhere.

Miami’s defensive corps has provided solid support in front of Drobac, blocking 15 total shots in Saturday’s game’s. Ryan Smith led the team with three blocked shots, while defensemen Vladislav Lukashevich and Michael Quinn each contributed two. The RedHawks also dominated in the faceoff circle, winning 56.7% of draws, led by Ethan Hay’s 15-for-20 performance (75%). These fundamental victories in puck possession have allowed Miami to control play for extended stretches.

The defensive structure and team commitment to protecting Drobac have been key factors in the undefeated start. While Miami was outshot 37-31 in Saturday’s game, the quality of chances and timely shot-blocking kept Lindenwood from generating sustained pressure. This balanced approach—combining offensive creativity with defensive responsibility—has become the hallmark of Noreen’s system.

Miami RedHawks make college hockey history with consecutive overtime wins

The Lindenwood sweep produced a notable first in Miami hockey history: back-to-back overtime victories. While the RedHawks had previously won consecutive games that went beyond regulation during the 2017-18 season against North Dakota, the rules of that era recorded the second game as a tie due to the three-on-three overtime format used for conference standings purposes. This weekend’s results will officially stand as Miami’s first-ever consecutive overtime wins in the program’s varsity hockey era.

Saturday’s game also featured a unique statistical oddity—neither team took a single penalty. This marked the first time in Miami hockey history that a game concluded with zero combined penalty minutes. The clean style of play stood in stark contrast to Friday night’s matchup, which saw seven total penalties called between the teams. The penalty-free environment allowed the natural flow of the game to develop, contributing to the back-and-forth excitement that characterized both contests.

Several Miami players extended impressive point streaks during the weekend. Kocha Delic stretched his season-opening point streak to six games, matching the team’s undefeated record. Grimes, Lukashevich, and Morozov each maintained point streaks of four games. Lukashevich produced his second multi-point outing of the weekend and his third as a RedHawk, while Grimes’ assist on Stupka’s goal marked the 10th point of his college career.

The return of Brayden Morrison, who made his season debut slotting in at fourth-line left wing, gave Miami additional depth. Morrison is one of only seven returning players from last season’s roster, highlighting the massive roster overhaul Noreen orchestrated during the offseason. The successful integration of transfers like Smith and Helgeson with returning players has been crucial to the team’s chemistry and success.

Looking at the bigger picture, Miami’s 6-0-0 start represents the program’s best beginning since the 2007-08 season. The athletic department has capitalized on the momentum by offering “Rollback to 2007” promotional ticket prices of $17 for the upcoming home opener against Arizona State. This marketing initiative acknowledges the historic nature of the start while attempting to build a stronger home-ice advantage at Goggin Ice Center.

What Miami RedHawks’ undefeated start means for college hockey’s NCHC race

As NCHC conference play begins, Miami enters as one of the league’s hottest teams. The upcoming home series against Arizona State on Halloween night and November 1 will test whether the RedHawks can maintain their perfect record against conference competition. Given their non-conference dominance and the confidence built through consecutive overtime victories, there’s little reason to doubt Miami’s ability to compete with anyone on their schedule.

The transformation from a three-win season to an undefeated start spanning six games represents one of college hockey’s most remarkable turnarounds. Coach Noreen’s emphasis on identity, work ethic, and team-first hockey has clearly resonated with his players. The additions made through the transfer portal have provided immediate impact, while returning players have elevated their games to match the heightened expectations.

Miami’s success has caught the attention of national pollsters, and the team should expect to receive votes in upcoming rankings. Smith’s dominant weekend performance could earn him NCHC Forward of the Week honors, further raising the program’s profile. As the only undefeated team remaining in Division I college hockey, the RedHawks have positioned themselves as a legitimate contender in what many consider the nation’s toughest conference.

The RedHawks have proven they can win in multiple ways—whether through offensive explosions or defensive stands. They’ve shown resilience when trailing and composure when protecting leads. Most importantly, they’ve demonstrated the ability to win close games when the pressure is highest. In college hockey’s competitive landscape, those traits separate contenders from pretenders. Miami’s undefeated start, punctuated by dramatic Lindenwood overtime wins, has announced that the RedHawks are ready to compete for championships once again. As conference play begins, the rest of the NCHC will have to solve the puzzle that is Miami hockey—and so far, nobody has found the answer.