Air Force (18-13-5) at Army West Point (14-13-6)
Best-of-3 Atlantic Hockey Conference quarterfinal series
Friday-Sunday, 5 p.m. MST (Sunday if nec.)
Radio / TV: AM 1300 and GoAirForceFalcons.com / AtlanticHockey.tv (subscription)
Series: Air Force leads 41-23-2, but Army won both games this season at Cadet Arena, 3-2 and 2-0, in early November
Playoff history: Air Force is undefeated in four meetings, edging Army, 1-0, last season in an AHC semifinal; sweeping the Black Knights in an AHC quarterfinal series in 2010 at Cadet Arena; and beating Army in the AHC final, 6-1, in 2007. The wins last year and in 2007 helped pave the way for the Falcons going to the NCAA Tournament.
Overview
Two well rested teams – thanks to byes last weekend for earning the conference’s fourth and fifth seeds – will meet at West Point, N.Y. The Falcons come in on a 10-3-2 roll to close the regular season. The Black Knights have won four of five but are 7-5-4 in the second half. Defense rules the day with these teams. Air Force ranks first in the conference and 11th in Division I in goals allowed per game (2.39). Army is second in AHC and 19th nationally (2.58). Army leads the AHC in penalty killing and is third in the nation (87.8) while Air Force is second in AHC and 13th in nation (83.7).
Set in net
A big part of the teams’ collective strength on defense can be attributed to the stellar goaltending each team has received. Falcons junior Billy Christopoulos was selected all-AHC third team this week. His 2,111 minutes are the most any NCAA goalie in the nation has played, and his 18 wins lead the league. He finished second in goals-against average (2.24) and fourth in save percentage (.915). He allowed three or fewer goals in 32 of 36 games and only as many as five once. … Counterpart Cole Bruns has enjoyed an excellent senior season for the Black Knights. He has an 11-9-3 record with a 2.39 GAA and a .921 save percentage. He has two shutouts, while Christopoulos has three.
Air Force update
The Falcons should be about as healthy as they’ve been in several months with junior forward Evan Giesler (upper body) the only possible question mark. Giesler (20 points) and linemates Erik Baskin (24 points, 14 goals) and Tyler Ledford (19 points, 16 assists) have formed a very effective top line when they’ve been healthy enough to play together. Giesler’s six career points against Army are the most by a current Falcon. Matt Serratore and Jordan Himley have 18 points apiece, while Serratore has 13 goals. Matt Koch and Phil Boje lead the blue line with 14 points apiece, and Boje – a shot-blocking machine (his 85 are second in the nation) – has a goal in each of the Falcons’ past two series. … The Falcons are 13-2-2 when they score first and 17-0-2 when they lead after two periods, a mark of an intelligent, veteran team.
The Falcons’ seniors are glad for another shot at Army
Army West Point update
The Black Knights have been lead by first-team all-AHC defenseman Alex Wilkinson and second-team all-AHC forward Michael Wilson, both sophomores. Wilson’s 29 points and 17 goals (nine on the power play) lead the team, while Wilkinson has 21 points and four of his six goals on the power play. Another sophomore, Dominic Franco, had 28 points, and senior captain Tyler Pham chipped in 23.
How it could go down
It seems like it would be an upset if this series doesn’t go three games. Both teams play an intense, defensive style, and both have strong penalty kills and are well coached. Goals will be at a premium. The Falcons have been so good on the road this season (10-6-3), and the Black Knights are surprisingly under .500 at home (5-6-3). Air Force finds a way a series that probably has at least one overtime game.
Here’s a look at the earlier games between the teams this season
Air Force rallies twice but falls to Army, 3-2
Army blanks Air Force, 2-0, to sweep
©First Line Editorial 2017-18
