A potentially harmful setback for Air Force’s Atlantic Hockey title hopes was avoided Saturday, but the Falcons still had to stage a furious third-period rally to tie an American International team that they had dominated one night earlier.
The Falcons’ 3-3 tie cost them a share of the AHC lead, which Canisius retook with its 6-5 victory over Sacred Heart.
An unusual sequence of events started the Falcons’ comeback.
Air Force (19-8-5, 16-5-3 AHC) pulled goalie Shane Starrett after Austin Orszulak scored on the rush with 4:24 to play. But Billy Christopoulos‘ relief appearance was brief as the Falcons pulled him shortly after. Seconds later, senior assistant captain A.J. Reid scored on a rebound of a Ben Kucera shot with 4:03 to go. The goal was Reid’s third of the weekend and fifth in four games.
AIC (7-18-7, 6-14-6) took a penalty for hitting after the whistle, so Air Force then began a power play, which they needed just 39 seconds to capitalize on. Defenseman Matt Koch scored through an Erik Baskin screen to make it 3-2 with 3:24 still to go.
Twenty-three seconds after that Reid drew another AIC penalty, and defenseman Phil Boje scored his second goal of the weekend on a shot from the point off a pass from Koch to tie with 2:37 remaining.
“We were on death’s door, but we weren’t dead,” AFA coach Frank Serratore said. “Give AIC credit, they were a difficult team to play against. Their power play got them the lead and then they played a good defensive game.
“But proud of our guys. Not many teams can come from three goals down in the final four minutes to get a point. We didn’t get too many open looks tonight. But when the chips were down, we found a way to salvage a point.”
Hugo Reinhardt‘s power-play goal 6:46 into the second period was just the second PPG the Falcons had allowed in the past six games, covering 23 chances.
In overtime the Falcons kept the pressure on but could not score, despite outshooting the Yellow Jackets, 4-0, and 29-23 in the game.
Notable
None of the Falcons’ injured players returned to the lineup, most notably sophomore forward Matt Serratore, who has been in concussion protocol. … The game marked only the second time in the past 10, dating to Jan. 7, that AFA scored more than one power-play goal.
