Ever since Miami University and the University of Michigan faced off as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in 2007-08, a heated rivalry has sparked between the two.

"It's really become quite a rivalry, and I know both teams look forward to the games and both teams are much better after the weekend than they are going into the weekend because of the intensity and the emotion that's involved in the game," Miami Head Coach Enrico Blasi said.

After skating to a loss and a tie against the Wolverines in that pivotal series, the RedHawks redeemed themselves with a home sweep of the Maize and Blue Nov. 21 and Nov. 22 last year, and then suffered back-to-back defeats in Ann Arbor Jan. 1 and Jan. 2.

Both teams were ranked in the Top 10 for both series in 2008-09, and this year's match-up tells the same story.

"It's two of the premier programs in the country,"

junior captain Tommy Wingels said. "They're always a great team. Obviously, every time we meet it seems like we're both top five in the country, which is great. It's great for both programs, and we love it."

The No. 1 Miami University men's ice hockey team (6-1-1 overall, 3-1-0 CCHA) will battle its nemesis from the north this weekend at Yost Arena.

No. 4 Michigan (4-2-0 overall, 2-0-0 CCHA) holds a sizeable lead in the all-time series 68-20-3 - including a significant 43-3-1 edge in Ann Arbor - but the teams have held an even ledger of 5-5-1 against each other since 2005-06.

Regardless, the RedHawks will have their work cut out for them during this weekend's road series in Yost's hostile environment.

"The atmosphere's great up there," Wingels said. "They have great fans and a well-known facility in Yost. It's got a lot of history in that building, but … we prepare the same way, whether we're going there or anywhere else. We stay grounded, we try to keep the fans out of it, and we're obviously going to try to do that in the first 10 minutes of the game."

The Wolverines are a squad that can score. Michigan's scoring offense is tied for ninth nationally, averaging 3.67 goals per game (GPG), while Miami ranks 19th with 3.25 GPG.

The Maize and Blue typically wins games in a big fashion, too. The Wolverines, whose 1.67 goal scoring margin ranks seventh, defeated Lake Superior State University by a combined total of 11-4 last weekend on the Lakers' home ice.

The brotherhood is averaging a closer 1.00 goal margin, but wins are wins and Miami's 6-1-1 overall record speaks for itself.

Both teams are fairly balanced as well, with 19 players on each squad tallying points in 2009-10.

Michigan has two four-goal scorers in junior Matt Rust and freshman Chris Brown, while no player on Miami's squad has reached the four-goal mark yet this season. However,

juniors Carter Camper, Wingels and Andy Miele and senior Jarod Palmer have all registered eight-plus points for the Red and White this season, while Rust is the only Wolverine to have reached the eight-point mark, giving a slight depth edge to the 'Hawks.

Questions circulated as to whether the premature departure of Aaron Palushaj from the Wolverines' line-up would hurt their offense. By the looks of it so far this season the answer is, in a word, no.

Rust has already stepped up to play a much larger role that he did last season and though junior Louie Caporusso's contributions have been slightly lacking thus far, Brown has made a sizeable impact already in his rookie season. Junior Carl Hagelin has been strong up front for the Maize and Blue as well.

Michigan's team is dynamic and strong, with a tendency to come out fast and physical and net a lot of goals up front. Already, the Maize and Blue has outscored its opponents 12-4 in the first frame during the 2009-10 campaign.

"I think we have to obviously match their intensity and be ready to go with the drop of the puck and then play our game from there," Blasi said. "(We need to) make sure we're winning battles and taking care of the puck and hopefully get our special teams in a position where we're having some success."

Meanwhile, Miami shines in the second stanza, with a cumulative record of 17-8 against its opponents in the middle frame. The Red and White's depth is its greatest weapon as any member of any line- forward or defenseman- is capable of scoring on any given night.

Four defensemen - freshman Joe Hartman and sophomores Chris Wideman, Cameron Schilling and Matt Tomassoni - have already tallied a total of seven goals this season.

When they're not drilling shots from the blue line, though, the RedHawk D-corps poses a formidable challenge to any team, allotting just 2.25 GPG in 2009-20.

Michigan's defensive prowess particularly shows in its fifth-ranked penalty kill (PK), which is 31-for-34 this year when the Maize and Blue is down a man.

"They've always been strong on the penalty kill and special teams becomes a big part, especially if, hopefully 5-on-5 we're pretty even and it's early in the season, there's a lot of penalties, so we're going to have to solve their penalty kill and make sure we kill their power plays off," Blasi said.

Special teams have played a decisive role for both teams this season. Michigan's game-winner against Alaska-Anchorage on Oct. 10 came on the power play (PP), and Boston University netted two goals with the man-advantage in its 3-2 victory over the Wolverines Oct. 24.

Additionally, Miami and Michigan State University played a tight match Oct. 23 - each team only managed one PP goal apiece until Wingels finally netted the game-winner for the Red and White with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

Then, in the brotherhood's 2-1 victory over Northern Michigan University (NMU) Oct. 31, all three of the goals came on the man advantage.

Both teams possess accomplished PP and PK units, but each squad also boasts a talented last line of defense for when things break down in front of the net.

Sophomore net minder Bryan Hogan has stood tall between the pipes for the Maize and Blue this season, compiling a goals against average of 2.01 and a save percentage (SP) of .919.

Sophomore Cody Reichard, who totaled 50 saves last weekend vs. NMU, is tied for sixth in winning percentage with a 5-0-1 record.

Sophomore Connor Knapp completes the RedHawks' goaltending tandem and averages a SP of .873. Knapp was under the weather last weekend, but is expected to return to the net in Ann Arbor for the series against Michigan.

"I think mindset (is most important going into the weekend)," Wingels said. "We've got to go into this weekend ready to play. It's a big game, obviously. We went out there last year and they gave it to us, but at the same time we're taking it like any other weekend, preparing the same way, taking it one day at a time, and when Friday comes we'll be ready to go. "

The puck is slated to drop at 7:35 p.m. both nights this weekend. Television coverage will be provided by Comcast in Michigan and ONN in Ohio. Fans can also listen in to WMSR's live radio broadcast of the action at http://www.redhawkradio.com.