Air Force (11-8-3, 9-5-2 AHC) at Sacred Heart (5-12-2, 5-8-1 AHC)
Saturday, 12:05 p.m. at Bridgeport, Conn.; Sunday, 2:05 p.m. at Yale (New Haven, Conn.)
Radio / webcast: AM 1300 and TuneIn / atlantichockey.tv
Series: Air Force leads, 26-11-6, but went 1-2-1 last season
Overview
The Falcons have just six series left, and this seems like a good place to build more momentum. Air Force has been pretty good in the second half, finding ways to get points in five of six game (2-1-3). But Sacred Heart, which has lost four in a row, has a way of making it rough on the Falcons, allowing two of fewer goals in 6 of the past 11 meetings. … Neither team has been an offensive juggernaut in Atlantic Hockey. Sacred Heart (2.32 goals per game) is last in the league in scoring and Air Force (2.59) is ninth. The Falcons have an edge in scoring defense, leading the league (2.59), while Sacred Heart is fifth (3.16) … Senior Billy Christopoulos is second in AHC in save percentage (.918) and GAA (2.24). His counterpart, freshman Josh Benson, has .900 and 2.72 numbers and led the Pioneers to a sweep at RIT in early December. … The defense pairing of Matt Koch and Zack Mirageas has accounted for 28 points for Air Force, with Koch owning team highs in points (18) and assists (16). Senior centers Evan Feno (17 points) and Kyle Haak (15) lead the team with nine goals. Kieran Durgan is second in AHC and third in D-I among freshmen with eight goals. Senior wing Evan Giesler has 14 points. … Sophomore Marc Johnstone leads Sacred Heart with 11 points.
Three keys for Air Force
Score first – The Falcons are 8-0-1 when they do that; that’s particularly helpful on the road.
Roll with it – This is an odd trip both in when it takes place and where. Like most of us, the Falcons are creatures of habit, but they face Saturday-Sunday afternoon games instead of Friday-Saturday night games. And, they’re playing them in different locations, neither of which is at Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are just 1-8-1 at “home.” … The other part of this is do what the Falcons always do – roll four lines and three D pairs and use their depth to wear down a team that has struggled lately.
Special teams – The Falcons have a demonstrable advantage in both categories. The penalty kill (88.9 percent) is second in the nation and the power play (24.2) is ninth. Sacred Heart sits 26th in PK (81.9) but only 54th (13.6) on the power play.
©First Line Editorial 2017-19
