Niagara (7-5-1, 6-2-1 AHC) at Air Force (7-6-3, 3-5-2 AHC)

Friday, 7:05 p.m., and Saturday, 5:05 p.m. at Cadet Arena

Radio / TV: AM 1300 / Friday’s game on CET (Xfinity Ch. 900) and AtlanticHockey.tv (subscription)

Series: Niagara leads 33-28-5, but AFA has a 17-6-2 edge in AHC matchups and has won the past six meetings

Overview

This marks the ninth weekend in a row the Falcons are in action before a four-week break, but it’s only their fourth home series. Air Force is 3-3 at home, while Niagara is 3-3 on the road. After a four-game skid, the Falcons have points in four of their past five games, and this might be the first weekend in four they don’t have to skate two defensemen at forward. It’s possible senior center Tyler Ledford, who has missed the past nine games because of a knee injury but was cleared to return earlier this week, will play. He typically has centered a line with Erik Baskin and either Jordan Himley or Evan Giesler. Ledford, an every situation player, had five points in seven games before the injury, and he (8 points) and Baskin (9) have fared particularly well vs. the Purple Eagles during their career.

Air Force update

For all of the Falcons’ battles with injuries, they have maintained a fairly strong defensive posture. Their 2.50 goals allowed per game is 10th best in Division I. This has come with as many as three freshmen playing in the blue line group on some nights and for the past six games without captain Dylan Abood, one of the defensive lynchpins. A pile of the credit has to go to Billy Christopoulos. The junior goaltender has been consistently good all season (7-6-3, 2.43 gaa, .913 save percentage). Of late his teammates are doing a better job eliminating the “bombs” – odd-man rushes and breakaways. Seniors Phil Boje (36 blocked shots, 7 assists), Jonathan Kopacka (AHC defensive player of the week after a two-goal weekend at Sacred Heart) and Kyle Mackey (who also has played wing) as well as juniors Matt Koch (11 points) and Dan Bailey (who has played center of late) have played a role in steadying the ship, as have freshmen Zach Mirageas, Jake Levin and Alex Mehnert. … A quartet of wings – Giesler (12 points, 4 goals), Himley (11, 4), Matt Serratore (11, 6) and Baskin (8, 5) are providing much of the offensive punch for a Falcons team that scores 2.58 gpg (but is coming off an eight-goal weekend), and sophomore center Erich Jaeger (5 points) has taken his game to another level of late and is a team-best plus-9. … The Falcons’ penalty kill is back at the 80 percent mark (tied for 35th), but the power play has struggled (15.2 percent, 46th).

Niagara update

There might not be a more improved team in NCAA Division I hockey than the Purple Eagles, who already have two more victories than they had all of last season. New coach Jason Lammers is part of the reason, and the play of freshman goaltender Brian Wilson (5-4-1, 2.43, .904) is another. Niagara also has been excellent on special teams. Its power play is 13th (23.5 percent) and its penalty kill is even better at 86.7 percent (10th). … The Purple Eagles, who score nearly 3 goals per game, get the bulk of their offense from their top two lines and the defense. Senior Derian Plouffe (15 points, 7 goals) centers a top line that also includes freshman Eric Cooley (7 points). Tanner Lomanes‘ 10 goals are tied for sixth most in D-I, and he and Nick Farmer and Sean King have combined for 26 points. … Sophomore defenseman Noah Delmas leads Niagara with 16 points. The Purple Eagles have allowed an average of 3.15 goals per game.

Helping hands

The Teddy Bear Toss returns to Cadet Arena on Saturday. Fans can bring a stuffed toy and, when the Falcons score their first goal, throw it on the ice. The toys will then be distributed to children in need during the holiday season. … After Saturday’s game, the Falcons will be available for a post-game autograph session. … On Sunday, the annual Skate with the Falcons will be from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Cadet Ice Arena. Admission is free and skate rental, if needed, is $3.

How it might go down

If the Falcons can build a lead going into the third period their chances of winning are good – Niagara has yet to win when trailing after two. Three goals continues to be the magic number for the Falcons. If they hit that plateau, they don’t lose (7-0-2). A return of Ledford would help the offense and both special teams units immensely, and this is a series that could come down to how well each team’s special teams units fare.

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Copyright First Line Editorial 2017