No. 20 Air Force (3-0-1) at Bemidji State (1-0-1)

Friday and Saturday: 6:07 p.m. MDT both nights

Radio: (1300 AM, goairforcefalcons.com and on TuneIn)

TV: AtlanticHockey.tv for a subscription fee

Series: Air Force and Bemidji have played 35 times since their first meeting in 1997, and the Beavers hold a 25-8-2 lead. Air Force is just 1-15-2 at Bemidji, with the only win being a 5-4 overtime victory in 2001. Air Force has lost 10 straight at Bemidji. Since 2001-02, the Falcons’ only wins vs. the Beavers have come at Cadet Arena, once in 2005 and twice in 2008.

Overview

This figures to be the Falcons’ most difficult non-conference series of the season, and likely one of their most

challenging ones of the season. Somehow the Beavers aren’t ranked despite winning and tying at Minnesota-Duluth last weekend, holding the Bulldogs to just two goals in the process. … Any discussion about this series between former College Hockey America rivals has to start with the coaches. The Beavers are coached by Tom Serratore, a younger brother of Falcons coach Frank Serratore. Tom’s son Matt is a junior for the Falcons. Frank (1982) and Tom (1987) are Bemidji graduates. All of the games in the series have come with Frank as the Falcons’ coach, while Tom took over the Beavers in 2001. The younger Serratore has bragging rights so far as he holds a 20-3-1 edge. … The Falcons could have quite a cheering section at the Sanford Center. In addition to Frank Serratore, assistant coach Andy Berg and director of hockey operations Corey Millen are Minnesota natives, as are seven players – freshman goaltender Erik Anderson, junior defenseman Dan Bailey, senior forward Erik Baskin, senior defenseman Phil Boje, junior defenseman Matt Koch, freshman defenseman Alex Mehnert and Matt Serratore.

Air Force update

The Falcons are coming off their strongest game of the season, a 3-2 victory over Arizona State one night after nearly coughing up a three-goal, third-period lead to the Sun Devils. … Defensemen have a goal in each of the Falcons’ first four games, and they have either the game-tying or game-winning goal the past three games. Koch scored in the opener at Alaska and had the winner in Saturday’s win vs. ASU. He and forward Evan Giesler lead AFA with four points. Baskin’s three goals are tops on the team. … Eighteen players already have points for the Falcons, who are getting scoring from all over the lineup. However, the top three returning scorers – Boje and forwards Jordan Himley and Kyle Haak – have combined for just three points so far. Boje has 13 blocked shots. … Junior goalie Billy Christopoulos’ three victories are just one fewer than his career best (set during his freshman season). He has been very good all season, with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, and he will need to be this weekend against a stingy Beavers outfit. … The news on the injury front is mixed. Matt Serratore (concussion) practiced this week and will be a game-time decision, as will freshman forward Marshall Bowery (upper body). Forward Trevor Stone and defenseman Kyle Mackey both are in concussion protocol and won’t play this weekend.

Bemidji State update

The Beavers picked up three points at Duluth despite being outshot by 12 on Friday and by 18 on Saturday. Their five goals on Friday came on just 17 shots on goal. … The biggest reason for Bemidji’s success – but far from the only one – is senior goaltender Michael Bitzer, who was a Mike Richter Award and Hobey Baker Award finalist a season ago. Bitzer stopped 72 of 74 shots (.973 save percentage) and has a 0.96 goals-against average. That’s nothing new, however, as he led the nation in gaa (1.71) and was third in save percentage (.932) a season ago. … No, the Falcons won’t need their vision tested because they’re seeing things – the Beavers’ lineup includes the Fitzgerald triplets. Gerry led the now-senior trio with 26 points last season and he had three points last Friday vs. Duluth. Five players scored goals in Friday’s 5-2 win. Saturday the teams skated to a 0-0 deadlock.

How it could go down

If you’re looking for a goal-fest, you’ve come to the wrong place. The Beavers have the second-ranked defense (1.00) in Division I, and the Falcons are tied for eighth (2.00). … Both teams have been very good on special teams – two of the Beavers’ five goals in their win vs. UMD came on the power play, and the Falcons have four in 17 tries (23.5 percent). Bemidji has killed off all eight of its penalties, while the Falcons have allowed just two power-play goals on 25 opponent chances (92 percent efficiency). … If the Falcons can earn a split, that would be solid. If they can sweep or pick up three of four points, it would represent a big step.

Follow @AFAFlightPath on Twitter for Air Force hockey updates all weekend