You expected anything less than a third game of a playoff series between Air Force and Army West Point?
The Black Knights scored on their only power play, midway through the first period, and that ended up being all they needed in a 1-0 Atlantic Hockey Conference quarterfinal victory over the Falcons at West Point, N.Y.
That sets up a Game 3 matchup Sunday (5 p.m. MDT) that will send one team to the AHC final four in Rochester, N.Y., and end the other service academy’s season.
It marked the second time in four games this season that the Black Knights (15-14-6) shut out the Falcons. The first came on Nov. 5 at Cadet Ice Arena when Cole Bruns, just as he did Saturday when he made 33 saves, stopped everything Air Force threw at him.
“It was a hard-fought game. The referees let the teams play,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “We had shots we just couldn’t convert.”
Zach Evancho scored the lone goal 8:29 into the game on the first of two Army power plays.
Special teams were the difference in the game. The Falcons (19-14-5) had six power-play chances, including five in the final two periods, but could not convert.
“They got a beautiful power-play goal, that’s the strength of their team. They put five talented players out there and really move it around,” Serratore said. “If our season ends tomorrow, we’ve got one thing to blame, and that’s our power play. You can’t win if you don’t score a goal. Bruns played solid and made some good saves.”
Billy Christopoulos made 17 saves for Air Force, which dominated in both shots on goal (33-18) and total shots attempted (78-39). However, Army blocked 28 Air Force shots.
“It could have easily been a 3-2 or 4-3 game,” Serratore added. “Again special teams and goaltending. Billy played well enough for us to win, but we’ve got to score a goal.”
That’s the directive for the Falcons for Sunday’s win-or-go-home game.
“It’s one and done, every shift is huge,” Serratore said. “Army played with a sense of urgency, a sense of physicality. We’ve got to stand up to it. Part of our game needs to be capitalizing on their penalties. We know they’re going to take them.
“(A Game 3) doesn’t surprise me a bit.”
Notable
The Falcons made two changes to their lineup Saturday. Freshman Walker Sommer was in at right wing on a line with Kyle Haak and Matt Serratore in place of senior Jordan Himley. Himley sustained an ankle injury during the third period of Friday’s game. Another freshman, Jake Levin, went in on defense, replacing junior Dan Bailey. … Levin was paired with Dylan Abood. Abood’s recent D partner, Matt Koch, was with Zack Mirageas, whom he played with much of the regular season. … The Falcons had their way in the face-off circle, winning 37 of 57 draws (65 percent), led by Tyler Ledford winning 12 of 18 (67 percent) and Kyle Haak taking 11 of 16 (69 percent). … Freshman wing Marshall Bowery left the game midway through the third period with an undisclosed injury.
Atlantic hockey update
Two teams moved on to the conference’s final four, while American International forced a decisive Game 3 with Canisius with a 2-1 overtime victory. Top-seeded Meryhurst defeated 11th-seeded Sacred Heart, 3-2, in overtime to take that series in two games. Seventh-seeded Robert Morris upset third-seeded Holy Cross, 5-1, to advance.
Air Force’s three stars
- BIlly Christopoulos. The junior played well enough to win, stopping 17 of 18 shots for a .944 save percentage.
- Matt Koch. The junior fired 11 shots, five of which went on net, and blocked two shots.
- Zack Mirageas. Koch’s freshman D partner fired nine shots, three of which hit the net and also blocked two shots.
Upcoming
The Falcons and Black Knights meet Sunday at 5 p.m. MDT for a decisive Game 3. AM 1300 and GoAirForceFalcons.com will carry the radio broadcast and AtlanticHockey.tv (subscription) will televise it.
©First Line Editorial 2017-18
