Sophomore Bryon Paulazzo prepares his shootout-winning goal against University of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick Saturday. Paulazzo skated to the right, cut back and faked a shot before firing a spinning backhander past Hunwick. Paulazzo’s shot won the game in the sudden death shootout. Saturday’s game was a draw, with Miami earning an extra point in the CCHA standings. With Friday’s win and Saturday’s draw, Miami extended their unbeaten streak against Michigan to five games. (SCOTT ALLISON | The Miami Student)
The Miami University men's ice hockey team continued their recent strong play during their series with the No. 4/5 University of Michigan Wolverines. The RedHawks won the first game 2-1 Friday and then tied the Wolverines 3-3 Saturday, but won the shootout. The series improved the RedHawks' record to 5-6-1 overall and 3-4-1-1 in CCHA play.
In the first game, the RedHawks jumped on the Wolverines early with hard hits and a goal by freshman Jimmy Mullin. Mullin scored less than two minutes into the game, being assisted on the play by juniors Joe Hartman and Garrett Kennedy.
"It definitely helped us out, but I think that the shift before mine that went out there and literally hit every guy on their team at least once really got us going," Mullin said.
Miami would extend their lead to 2-0 after freshman Tyler Biggs scored at the 10:17 mark in the second period. Biggs was assisted on the play by senior co-captain Will Weber and junior Curtis McKenzie.
The goal would end up being Biggs' first career game-winning goal. Michigan would get on the scoreboard 7:39 into the final period, but that's all they would get. Goalie Cody Reichard saved 20 shots and only gave up one goal for the game to secure the win for the Red and White.
The 'Hawks didn't score on any of their four power play opportunities, but did manage to take seven shots. The team also continued their strong penalty kill by stopping all three of Michigan's chances and limiting them to only one shot. Biggs' goal extended his point-streak to a team best five games.
"Anytime you play a skilled team like Michigan, you have to make sure you don't give them enough room and I thought we did that for the most part," Head Coach Enrico Blasi said. "They had some great chances, though, and Cody made some big saves."
The Red and White fell behind early in the second game, as Michigan scored twice in the first period. However, the RedHawks fought back in the second period when freshman Austin Czarnik won a faceoff, passed it to junior Reilly Smith who shot it past the Michigan goal keeper, who didn't seem to expect the shot.
Less than a minute later, the RedHawks appeared to tie the game on a Biggs goal, but officials disallowed the goal because Biggs deflected the puck off his skate. The RedHawks would finally get the tying goal at the 5:49 mark when Smith stole the puck inside Michigan's blue line, took a shot and although he missed, Czarnik was there to put in the rebound.
The RedHawks then scored on a power play goal with 12:13 remaining in the game as Smith scored on a deflected shot from senior Matt Tomassoni. The goal gave the 'Hawks a 3-2 lead. However, the Wolverines would tie the game up with 3:54 remaining and the teams would go to overtime. Despite both sides having solid opportunities, neither team was able to find the back of the net and the teams were forced to go to a shootout.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
After all three of the players for each team failed to score, sophomore Bryon Paulazzo came up for the 'Hawks. He skated to the right, cut back left, faked a forehand shot, spun around and buried home a backhanded shot.
"I always do it in practice and the guys always say I can't do it," Paulazzo said. "I did it about three times in juniors and it worked. Last year I tried it, but the goalie poke checked me, so I knew I'd try it again and it worked. It's a move I've been doing for about 10 years now."
The goal sent the near-sellout crowd into a frenzy, as Steve Cady Arena was only 14 people short of a full sellout. Reichard's subsequent save gave the RedHawks their first shootout win since Jan. 28 against the University of Notre Dame.
"In the first period, Michigan came out and executed a couple of nice plays," Blasi said. "I thought we did a pretty good job responding in the second period. We started to be more urgent and have more energy in our play, and it carried our team through the third period."
Reichard finished the game with 25 saves, while Miami outshot the Wolverines 41-28. The 41 shots is their highest total all year. The Red and White also extended their penalty kill streak to 22 straight without allowing a goal. Smith's two-goal game gave him his second multi-goal game of the year and the 11th of his career.
The RedHawks will host Bowling Green State University this weekend during hockey alumni weekend.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.