OXFORD, Ohio — Three goals against scored three different ways in the third period doomed Miami.
Lindenwood found the net three times in an eight-minute span to sink the RedHawks, 4-2 at Cady Arena on Friday in the teams’ first-ever meeting.
First star Dave Gagnon figured in all three of those key Lions markers, scoring two and assisting on the other as LU netted goals 5-on-5, shorthanded and on the power play in the decisive final frame.
Lindenwood snapped its three-game losing streak while extending Miami’s skid to three. The series finale is at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.
RECAP: Miami (2-3-2) took its only lead of the game with 35 seconds left in the first period. Matt Choupani blocked a shot then burst through the defense for a breakaway, and his initial shot was denied by goalie Owen Bartoszkiewicz, but Colby Ambrosio charged into the crease and swatted the idle loose puck in, giving the RedHawks the lead.
Lindenwood (2-3) tied it six minutes into the middle frame, as a slap shot by Drew Kuzma from the left faceoff circle snuck through Miami goalie Bruno Bruveris’ equipment and slid behind him, where it was pitchforked in by Alex Lundman.
Gagnon ripped a one-timer past Bruveris from the right hash marks with 15:31 left in regulation to give the Lions the lead.
Gagnon made it a 3-1 game less than two minutes later with Lindenwood shorthanded when he intercepted a pass along the end boards in his offensive zone, skated across the top of the crease and backhanded a shot past a sprawling Bruveris.
Miami pulled within one with 8:54 left in regulation, as Christophe Fillion slid a no-look backhand pass through the top of the crease to Choupani, who fanned on the initial shot but shoveled a backhander under Bartoszkiewicz’s pads.
But 76 seconds later, LU sealed it when Kristof Papp tipped in a blue-line wrister by Jake Southgate from the slot.
STATS: Choupani finished with a goal and an assist, already his third multi-point game of the season.
Both Choupani and Ambrosio scored their third goal of the season and are now tied for the top spot on the team.
Fillion picked up an assist, snapping a four-game pointless funk, and Johnny Waldron earned the other helper and now is tied for third on the team both in points (5) and assists (4) despite missing a game.
— Miami finished with 33 shots, its second-best total of the season. The RedHawks allowed just 22 SOG, as their plus-11 advantage was their best of 2024-25.
— MU went 1-for-3 on the power play, raising its efficiency to 23.5 percent — 17th-best in Division I. The penalty kill allowed a PPG for just the second time this season, but it’s still operating at a 92.9 percent clip, tied for 11th in the NCAA.
Unfortunately, Miami also surrendered its second shorthanded goal of the season. Only Air Force has given up more SHGs (4!) in D-1 — Alaska, Arizona State and Colgate are the only other teams to have let in two shorties.
ANALYSIS: This was a pretty evenly-played game, but the biggest difference was Lindenwood cashed in more of its scoring opportunities than Miami.
And the RedHawks were in top form at times but not nearly enough of the game.
Miami was a little slow off the opening faceoff but was excellent the balance of the first period, culminating in an incredible individual effort by Choupani and follow-up by Ambrosio.
Lindenwood tied it on a fairly innocuous traffic-free slap shot from the left faceoff circle that slipped through, and the Lions took the lead on a great feed and a better one-time blast.
An Ambrosio defensive-zone turnover resulted in the third LU shorthanded goal, and the fourth was on a beautiful tip in the slot.
Fillion’s highlight-reel pass set up Choupani for Miami’s second goal, and it looked like Miami was right back in the game.
But moments later, the RedHawks’ Frankie Carogioiello was whistled for a boarding minor, and for just the second time this season, MU allowed a power play goal, which clinched the loss.
The effort was solid from the first to fourth lines and from D-pairings 1-3…for the majority of the game…but critical mistakes were costly, and upstart Lindenwood took advantage, as the Lions deserved the win.
— Where was the crowd?!?! Finally, there was no excuse: No summer break/winter break/J-term/spring break/fall break/Thanksgiving break/Christmas break/Arbor Day break/Andy Greene birthday break (his birthday is Oct. 30, BTW). Attendance: 2,021. With students in session. The RedHawks hockey fanbase is better than that.
— Unfortunately for Miami, William Hallen left in the second period with an apparent upper-body injury, and he did not return.
Fourth-liner John Emmons also did not play in the third period due to an undisclosed injury, as the RedHawks finished the game with 10 forwards. It was the freshman’s second time dressing for MU…
— …Segue…This was a one of the most physical games Miami has played this season, with Spencer Cox earning best hit of the game on the video screen.
LINEUP CHANGES: Just one: Emmons replaced Artur Turansky up front.
STANDINGS: Miami has dropped 40 spots in eight days in the way-to-early PairWise rankings, slipping from No. 11 last Friday to 51st.
GRADES
FORWARDS: B-. Yeah, it’s still really early, but still too many passes are still to no one in particular, being broken up or cleanly intercepted. But when Miami was buzzing in the Lindenwood end, it was fun to watch. Choupani created the first goal by blocking the shot and charging after the loose puck for the breakaway. Fillion’s incredible no-look pass to Choupani set up the other. Ambrosio scored but did make an errant pass on the power play that ended up in his own net. Casper Nassen didn’t have a point but he continues to improve seemingly every game, with his massive shot and ability to bulldoze over people with his 6-feet-4 frame. Max Dukovac was excellent as well, especially early, and Raimonds Vitolins and Johnny Waldron seemed to find chemistry and generated multiple Grade-A chances. Waldron seems more comfortable at right wing than center where he started the season and can better take advantage of his pro-level shot.
DEFENSEMEN: A-. Bias may be in play here having watched this unit struggle mightily at times over the past few years, but with few exceptions, this corps — 1-though-7 — played outstanding defense all game. Zane Demsey was promoted to top pairing and proved why, as he took the puck away from forward after forward either with his stick or by outmuscling them in the corners and kept it out of harm’s way when he took control of it. Dylan Moulton has continued to emerge defensively as well and has proven he can add score as well. Michael Quinn and Rihards Simanovics continue to evolve each week as well, with the freshman Quinn already running one of the power play units. Hampus Rydqvist and Conner Hutchison also had solid games, and Cox laid out three players and saw his minutes increase as the game went on. The physical element he brings alone will make it hard to keep him off the lineup card, and he can also kill penalties and run a power play if needed.
GOALTENDING: D. Bruveris got his glove on the first goal against, but somehow it slipped through his equipment. That tied the score, and he stopped just three of six in the third period, finishing 18 of 22 (.818). He made an excellent sprawling save to start the second period but didn’t face a ton of high-percentage chances, and the ones he saw found their mark. The second goal was unstoppable and the fourth was on a nice tip from the slot, but he would’ve liked the first one back and on the third one he got beaten 1-on-1. Bruveris is much improved over 2023-24 and has been outstanding at times, but this wasn’t one of his better games.
FINAL THOUGHTS: From a fan’s perspective, this is a frustrating loss against a third-year program that is still without a conference, especially in Oxford.
Miami’s four-game unbeaten streak to begin the season makes it tougher to stomach, since it reminded everyone that the team is truly in a rebuild and not as far along in that process as many hoped following a fast start.
But there was a lot of good to take out of this game. All four lines were engaged despite losing two forwards to injury and having their lines constantly juggled. Overall, the defensemen stymied Lindenwood’s offense, helping limit the Lions to 22 shots and only a few high-quality chances. The high-profile youngsters continued to take steps forwards.
That said, league play starts in three weeks, and Miami’s average strength of opponent will skyrocket.
The process toward rejuvenating the RedHawks to their former glory is a multi-year process, and this coaching staff has done wonders in numerous areas to improve this program in six months.
But in the present, if Miami can’t beat Robert Morris or Lindenwood, it still has much work to do if it hopes to compete in the NCHC this season.
View From the Glass 