The power play giveth, and the power play taketh.

For Air Force on Saturday night at Niagara, it was the former. Carter Ekberg‘s first career goal lifted the Falcons into a 1-1 Atlantic Hockey Conference tie at Niagara Falls, N.Y.

The Falcons (4-4-2, 4-8-2-2 AHC) picked up the extra conference point when Zach Mirgeas scored 2:03 into the second, 3-on-3 overtime. It was the third consecutive overtime game the Falcons played, and the second Saturday game in a row they won in 3-on-3 play.

One night after allowing two power-play goals to Niagara, Air Force scored the only man-advantage goal in Saturday’s game when Ekberg sent a pass from fellow defenseman Brandon Koch past Purple Eagles goaltender Brian Wilson (34 saves) with 4:35 to play in the second period.

Ekberg’s tally was just the Falcons’ fourth power-play goal in 14 games this season. Air Force went 1 for 5 on Saturday.

Niagara (4-4-2, 4-8-2) had taken a 1-0 lead 1:56 earlier when Brandon Stanley put in a rebound of his own shot past Alex Schilling (16 saves). The goal was Stanley’s second in the series.

“I thought we outplayed them all night,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said, “We found a way to get a power-play goal, which was nice. Wilson found a way to get them a point tonight.

“With the effort we put in in the first 65 minutes, and we had to persevere after an untimely penalty (at the end of the game that carried into the first overtime), I thought it was important to get that extra point.”

One night after outshooting the hosts 32-26, the Falcons were even more dominant in that category Saturday, holding a 35-16 edge.

Air Force, which has points in six of its past seven games, will play host to Holy Cross on Friday and Saturday in its final series of 2019.

©First Line Editorial 2019