There is something about Miami University that brings out the best -- and the stinginess -- in Hunter Shepard.

On Friday night, the University of Minnesota Duluth junior goaltender posted his third straight shutout over the RedHawks, stopping all 23 shots the hosts sent his way in a 4-0 National Collegiate Hockey Conference victory. The No. 5 Bulldogs struck for three goals in a span of 89 seconds early in the second period to break the game open and moved to 13-6-2 overall and 6-4-1 in the NCHC.

In his five lifetime starts against the RedHawks, Shepard has compiled a 0.81 goals against average, a .968 saves percentage and a 4-1-0 record while holding them scoreless for his last 197:08 of icetime.

Sophomore right winger Nick Swaney's shorthanded goal -- the second of his career -- with 1:24 to go in the first period was all the scoring Shepard and the Bulldogs would need. Rookie center Jackson Cates put UMD up 2-0 at 3:45 of the second period on a redirect off a shot from sophomore defenseman Dylan Samberg before his younger brother, sophomore left winger Noah Cates, added some insurance with a one-timer on the power play less than a minute later. Senior team captain Parker Mackay potted his team-leading ninth goal of the season at the 5:14 mark to round out the scoring.

UMD, which possess the nation's best penalty kill percentage at .933, was 5-for-5 in that department and connected on one of its four power play opportunities.

The two clubs will meet again on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. (CT).

NOTES: The Bulldogs are unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 games against Miami, going 12-1-2 during that stretch ... Junior left winger Riley Tufte, who was credited with one assist, skated in his 100th collegiate game Friday ... UMD has given up just one power play goal over the past 10 outings and the last 40 times it has been a man down ... Parker Mackay's nine goals in 2018-19 equals his career high, which he set one year ago  ... The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition 30-13 in the second period this season ... Sophomore center Justin Richards had a pair of assists to extend his current scoring streak to a personal-best five games,