Round 3 of this year’s Miami University-Ohio State hockey series will have a different look and feel.

The two teams have been idle since meeting Dec. 14-15 in Columbus, with the RedHawks notching a 1-1 tie (with a 1-0 shootout win) and a 3-1 triumph in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action.

Friday, they’ll square off at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. It’s a first-round matchup in the Three Rivers Classic, but some central figures will be missing.

For MU, freshman forwards Riley Barber and Sean Kuraly are in Ufa, Russia, playing with the U.S. National Junior Team in the IIHF World Junior Championship until Jan. 5. Helping coach that squad is OSU head coach Mark Osiecki.

Host Robert Morris (7-4-2) and Penn State (7-8) will play in today’s first Classic semifinal at 4:30. The consolation and championship games will be Saturday.

The fifth-ranked RedHawks (11-3-4) have been on a roll of late, taking only one loss in their last 11 contests. They haven’t given up more than two goals since Nov. 2 and were 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in their first two games against Ohio State.

The Buckeyes (7-6-5) are winless in their last four contests, though senior goaltender Brady Hjelle ranks in the top three nationally in goals-allowed average (1.46) and save percentage (.951).

MU holds a 67-60-13 advantage in the series with OSU, which will be under the direction of associate head coach Steve Rohlik this weekend.

After the Classic, Miami has its last two-week break of the regular season and will head to Northern Michigan on Jan. 11. RedHawks coach Enrico Blasi plans to use the time for a midseason training camp.

Blasi is approaching his 300th career victory in 14 seasons at MU, his alma mater. He’s 297-187-52.