Crime doesn’t pay. Don’t believe us though, simply ask Mercyhurst.

Seven seconds into a third-period penalty kill, Lakers defenseman Philippe Drouin took a major penalty for hitting behind that turned the tide in Air Force’s 4-2 victory Saturday.

Trailing 2-1 with 9:28 left in the game, the Falcons scored three consecutive power-play goals – by Erik Baskin on a 5-on-3 and A.J. Reid and Matt Serratore on the major.

Backup goaltender Billy Christopoulos made 20 saves for Air Force (13-6-3, 10-3-1),  which moved into first place all by itself in Atlantic Hockey with its sixth consecutive victory, all in AHC and the past four on the road.

“We played a good, solid game and made them work for their chances and earn their chances,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “The bottom line is we stayed with our game. We didn’t panic, we didn’t get impatient. When the opportunity presented itself, we seized the opportunity.”

For the first two and a half periods the game was on track to be a contest between Baskin and Mercyhurst’s Matthew Whittaker, who scored midway through the first period and late in the second period to stake the Lakers to a 2-1 lead after Baskin had tied it just 3:08 into the second.

The Falcons had to kill a two-man disadvantage of their own late in the second period.

Baskin again tied it with 8:08 to play and 40 seconds left in the 5-on-3. Reid’s goal came on a redirection 2:48 later and Serratore poked in a rebound of a Kyle Mackey shot 1:02 later.

Baskin’s goals gave him eight on the season, second on the Falcons to Jordan Himley‘s 10.

The victory also was Christopoulos’ first of the season despite his solid play.

“If we’re going to win games we’ve got to score more than one goal. Billy’s played pretty well for us and hasn’t won yet,” Serratore said. “I’m really happy we were able to get that game for a lot of reasons. … Billy goes in there and gets it done.”

Ailing defense

The Falcons played without two defensemen due to injuries then lost a third, sophomore Dan Bailey, to a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct with 1:08 to play.

Senior captain Johnny Hrabovsky was out because of a high-ankle sprain and junior Jonathan Kopacka also missed the game. Freshman Matt Burchill joined the lineup and acquitted himself well, Serratore said. “I thought Matt Burchill did a solid job on the blue line.”

At this point the Falcons’ seventh defenseman would be senior forward Tyler Rostenkowski, Serratore said.

The last word

The Falcons return home after two weeks on the road to play Canisius next weekend, but before preparations for that AHC series begin Serratore reflected on what the team had accomplished so far in the second half.

“I don’t care what league you’re playing in you’re not going to see many teams win four road games in a row,” the coach said. “I’m very proud of these guys.”