No. 17 Miami (Ohio) wins handily

OXFORD, Ohio — No. 17 Miami (Ohio) lit up the scoreboard, downing No. 19 Northern Michigan in a convincing 6-0 win as all four lines scored on Saturday. The start of the game was delayed by 10 minutes due to technical difficulties with the lights in the arena.

Goaltender Cody Reichard earned his second shutout of the season and 12th of his career by making 16 saves to tie David Burleigh for the Miami record. Reilly Smith reached a milestone of his own, as his assist on Miami’s first goal gave him 100 points for his career.

Alex Wideman recorded his first-career multi-goal game to pace Miami with two goals, including his first career game-winner. His score in the third period was one of Miami’s four third-period goals, which broke open a tight game. Wideman’s first goal came on the power play as the RedHawks finished 2-4 on the man advantage while going 5-5 on the penalty kill.

Wideman tallied his first goal at 16:14 of the first period on the power play to put the Hawks ahead 1-0. Miami’s man advantage had been dangerously cycling the puck in the offensive zone for the majority of the power play Trent Vogelhuber controlled the puck behind the back of the net before finding Smith in the slot.

Smith put a shot on net that NMU goalie Jared Coreau saved but the rebound squirted out to Wideman, who buried the puck while falling on his backside.

Miami doubled its lead at 6:28 of the second period on Bryon Paulazzo’s fourth goal of the year. Matt Tomassoni found Paulazzo at the bottom of the left faceoff circle as Paulazzo darted behind the net and used a textbook wrap-around to beat Coreau on the far side, making it 2-0 RedHawks.

Chris Wideman also had an assist on the play. Reichard was called upon to make some key saves in the second period as he turned aside seven shots to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.

Smith put the game out of reach early in the third period as Miami notched its second power play goal, giving Smith a CCHA-best 19 goals on the year. Smith put home his own rebound to give the `Hawks a commanding 3-0 lead 1:10 into the final frame.

Austin Czarnik found Smith on the near side of the net from the halfwall, but Smith’s first shot was stopped. He was able to find the loose puck and deposit it in the back of the net.

Alex Wideman struck again less than three minutes later as he beat Coreau far side to put Miami ahead 4-0 as the RedHawks converted on another rebound. Blake Coleman and Chris Wideman had the helpers on the play. Alex’s two goals give him three for his career while Chris finished with two assists of helpers.

Miami scored another goal 4:56 into the third period when Patrick Tiesling found the back of the net for a 5-0 lead, his second tally on the year. He one-timed a pass from Tomassoni for the RedHawks’ third goal in less than four minutes.

Tomassoni’s two assists in the game marked a career high. Tyler Biggs then rounded out the scoring with 1:20 left in the game off assists from Curtis McKenzie and Steven Spinell. The goal was Biggs’ sixth of the year.

The `Hawks outshot NMU 40-16 in the game, topping 40 shots, while holding the Wildcats under 20 shots. Coreau made 26 saves but surrendered four goals before being replaced early in the third period by Reid Ellingson, who made eight saves in relief and allowed two goals.