Good things came in threes for Air Force Academy on Friday night.
Three third-period goals lifted the Falcons to their third consecutive victory, a 3-1 triumph over host Sacred Heart in an Atlantic Hockey game at Bridgeport, Conn.
Tyler Ledford, A.J. Reid and Evan Feno scored for the Falcons (10-6-3, 7-3-1 Atlantic Hockey), while Kory Kennedy tallied for the Pioneers (6-11-2, 4-9-0). Shane Starrett came within 1:49 of a shutout and made 21 saves.
Here are three takeaways from the Falcons’ victory:
Upward mobility
The Falcons’ third consecutive AHC victory pulled them to three points of conference leader Army. AFA is tied with Canisius, which also won Friday against Holy Cross, with the fewest losses in league play (three). Should the Falcons win Saturday afternoon’s rematch at Sacred Heart they would be just a point out of first place.
One, two …
The goals for Ledford, Reid and Feno were the second for each this season.
The strikes from Ledford (on a power play with 9:33 to go in the game) and Reid (even strength) are particularly encouraging.
Ledford, who led the Falcons with 27 points last season, had just five entering Friday’s game. Getting the skilled junior center on track is crucial down the stretch.
The same holds true for his linemate Reid, a senior assistant captain who overcame a gruesome leg injury last season.
Both goals, which staked AFA to a 2-0 lead until Kennedy struck with 1:49 to go, ended long goal droughts. Ledford’s strike was his first since Oct. 16 at Arizona State. Reid’s tally was his first since Oct. 22 against Bentley.
Road win in the numbers
Starrett was good when he needed to be, especially in the second period when he faced 12 shots. After a bit of a lull in the first half, the sophomore has been sharp on both sides of the break, allowing just two goals over the past three games.
The Falcons, who outshot the Pioneers 26-22, also won the special teams battle. AFA went 1 for 7 on the power play and killed both Sacred Heart penalties. It marked the fourth time in five games the Falcons have not allowed a power-play goal, and they are 13 for 14 in that span.
