Miami University
Alaska
RedHawks Snap Skid with 2-1 Win Over Alaska
11/5/2011 12:00:00 AM | Hockey
Nov. 5, 2011
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Using a strong penalty kill and superb goaltending from senior goalie Cody Reichard, the Miami University hockey team gutted out a 2-1 win over Alaska Friday night at the Carlson Center to snap a five-game losing streak and earn its first CCHA win of the season. With the victory, the RedHawks (3-6-0, 1-4-0-0 CCHA) snapped their longest losing streak since January of 2009 while the Nanooks (3-4-2, 0-3-2-0 CCHA) remained winless in league play.
Miami was a perfect 7-for-7 on the penalty kill, including a 5-on-3 UAF power play in the second period, with the seven kills tying a season high. The RedHawks, meanwhile, continued to struggle on their own man advantage, going 0-for-3. Despite the win, the `Hawks were outshot 30-14 with the 14 shots on goal their fewest since firing 13 on Nov. 6, 2009. Reichard came up large with a season-high 29 saves however, to pick up his second win of the year. Miami also blocked 20 shots, led by six from senior defenseman Will Weber.
The RedHawks struck first for the sixth time this year, as senior Alden Hirschfeld scored for the second straight game 10:15 into the opening period. Sophomore Bryon Paulazzo attempted a wrap-around shot that was saved by UAF goaltender Scott Greenham, but the rebound popped up in front of him where Hirschfeld batted it out of mid-air behind Greenham to put Miami on top 1-0. Freshman Tyler Biggs picked up the second assist to extend his point streak to a career-best three games.
After failing to take advantage of some Miami turnovers in the first period, the Nanooks finally capitalized on a RedHawk miscue 9:33 into the middle stanza when junior Steven Spinell sent an errant pass in the defensive zone that Colton Beck intercepted. Beck then skated in alone and beat Reichard stick-side to even the game at 1-1.
The tie was short-lived however, as junior Reilly Smith put Miami back on top just 1:21 later with his team-leading fifth tally of the year and first since Oct. 15. Freshman Austin Czarnik and junior Curtis McKenzie chipped the puck along the boards to center ice where Smith took control. He skated in the offensive zone and pulled up with a defender in his face in the right circle and fired a hard wrister that beat Greenham top-shelf to make it 2-1 `Hawks.
UAF nearly tied it again a few times later in the second period but shortly after Smith put Miami ahead, the referees whistled for play to stop thinking Reichard had covered the puck when it was sitting in front of an empty cage after popping free from a scrum. Then senior defenseman Cameron Schilling cleared the puck off the goal line after an Alaska shot trickled behind Reichard with less than three minutes left in the second stanza to keep the RedHawks on top.
The Nanooks pressured Miami over the final 20 minutes, peppering Reichard with 14 shots while the RedHawks put just two on target, but Reichard turned each one aside. UAF pulled Greenham, who finished with just 12 stops, with 1:25 to go but hustling defense prevented Alaska from finding an equalizer with the extra attacker as Miami held on for the 2-1 win.
The RedHawks go for the sweep of the Nanooks Saturday night, when the teams square off again at the Carlson Center. Puck drop is set for 11:05 p.m. ET (7:05 p.m. local time).
--MURedHawks.com--
