Air Force (15-12-5, 13-9-4 AHC) vs. Holy Cross (9-18-5, 9-13-4 AHC)
7:05 p.m. Friday and 5:05 p.m. Saturday at Cadet Arena
Radio / streaming: 1300 AM and on TuneIn / atlantichockey.tv (subscription)
Series: Air Force leads 22-12-13, but it has not beaten the Crusaders in three years
What’s at stake
Playoff positioning. If the Falcons pick up one point this weekend, they guarantee themselves next weekend off. If they pick up more and things break right, they could play host to an Atlantic hockey quarterfinal in two weeks. If they sweep and Bentley loses one of its games at Army West Point, the Falcons will finish second. … Holy Cross is in a tie for eighth with Army, and with a productive weekend it could play host to an opening-round series.
Three keys for Air Force
- Score first – The Falcons have had their challenges on offense this season, but those have been largely mitigated when they score first (they’re 11-1-1 when that happens). It also would slow a Holy Cross team that is 5-2-2 in its past nine and took three of four points from previously red-hot Bentley.
- Focus on your strengths – Air Force is second in the nation in penalty killing (88.9 percent), it’s first in AHC in face-offs (54.5 percent) and it’s first in defense (2.50). Do what got you here well, and you’ll be in business.
- Shoot … the … puck, and crash … the … net – When Air Force does these two things, good things almost always seem to happen.
MORE: A Salute to Air Force’s Seniors
©First Line Editorial 2017-19
