A second-period special teams meltdown Saturday night ended any chance Air Force had of retaking the Pikes Peak Trophy.
Colorado College scored four of its six power-play goals – three on a major penalty – in the middle frame en route to a 8-1 non-conference victory over the Falcons (2-4) at Ed Robson Arena. Eight players had goals and 13 had points for the Tigers (2-5-1).
One night after tallying a hat trick and an overtime winning goal, Air Force sophomore Will Gavin took two penalties that sparked the Tigers’ man-advantage outburst. His major came with 9:22 left in the second when he hit CC defenseman Hugo Blixt into the boards from behind. After an officials review, he also was given a game misconduct.
Senior goaltender Alex Schilling was pulled after the third power-play goal with 6:38 to go and replaced by sophomore Maiszon Balboa. Schilling had 10 saves on 15 shots on goal. Balboa lasted 13:58, allowing two more power-play goals on six shots before freshman Guy Blessing made his NCAA debut with 12:40 to play and stopped six of seven shots.
Dominic Basse made 16 saves for Colorado College.
Saturday night blues
Friday night must be the Falcons’ night. Two of their three wins have come in Game 1 of a series. Conversely, Saturday’s have been a nightmare.
One night after defeating Michigan State in overtime, the Spartans routed the Falcons, 5-1. Two weeks ago, Air Force lost a tight game to then-No. 11 Denver on Friday before getting thumped, 8-0, on Saturday.
That pattern held this weekend, which started with Air Force’s compelling 5-4 overtime victory on Friday. That gave it hope of seizing the Pikes Peak Trophy for the first time since 2018. That hope lasted all of two periods Saturday.
Another distressing pattern emerged. It marked the second consecutive Saturday game in which Schilling’s night ended during the second period. He exited the second Denver game after giving up five goals on 21 shots in 29:35.
Blues, part 2
The Falcons did nothing to help their cause by continuing to take penalties, including another major for another hit from behind by sophomore defenseman Luke Robinson with 15:56 to play in the game.
Combined with a previous minor penalty, CC got its fifth power-play goal 1:21 later on a 5-on-3 advantage. The Tigers added their sixth with 12:40 left.
Overall, CC went 6 for 11 on the power play while Air Force was 1 for 5.
Notes
Four Falcons goaltenders have seen action in the season’s first six games. Austin Park, who is out with an injury, relieved Schilling at Denver. … Sophomore Nate Horn scored his second goal of the season – on a power play ironically enough – 1:40 into the third period. … Air Force opens Atlantic Hockey play next weekend with a trip to Niagara. The Purple Eagles split a series with Sacred Heart.
©First Line Editorial 2021
