If it’s a Friday night – especially at home, Air Force will give your money’s worth.
The Falcons got all the offense they would need in the second period, and senior goaltender Alex Schilling made it stand up in a 2-1 Atlantic Hockey victory over Bentley at Cadet Arena.
The triumph was the Falcons’ third in five Friday’s as they continued momentum from a solid weekend at Niagara.
Here are some observations from Air Force’s victory.
Schilling was a wall
There were times the Air Force defense was a bit loose, but Schilling, the senior co-captain, was there to answer the bell. Twice he stopped clean breakaways, including late in the third period. And he also denied Cole Kodsi, who had the first breakaway, on a penalty shot early in the second.
His 26-save performance has to rate as one of his two best this season (his 42-save number in Game 1 against Denver was terrific as well).
He played well at Niagara, and seemed to get better the tighter those games got, just as he did on Friday.
In an evenly matched game, he was the difference.
Falcons go for seconds
The Falcons (3-5-1, 1-1-1 AHA) scored the opening goal for only the second time in nine games when sophomore Will Gavin scored his team-high fifth 5:34 into the second period.
As has often been the case on Gavin’s goals, linemate Parker Brown used his speed to generate a chance or create space, and Gavin was waiting to cash in.
Another sophomore, defenseman Sam Brennan scored for the second game in a row off a face-off in the left circle, firing the puck from the high slot past Nicholas Grabko (31 saves).
Minding the details
Bentley (4-6, 2-3) drew within one on Matt Lombardozzi‘s power-play goal from just inside the top of the left circle with 2:38 to go in the second period.
That was the only ding against Schilling, and it was the only dent in six cracks against Air Force’s penalty kill, which entered the game with a dismal 54 percent success rate. That was a positive.
AFA’s power play could not score in six tries, however, including a 5-on-3 in the third period which could have helped it blow the game open.
But these Falcons apparently like the drama of close games. This was their fifth decision by one goal or fewer in nine starts, and the 4-1 loss to Denver was 2-1 until the final minutes.
Air Force also was stronger on the dot, winning 35 of 64 draws (55 percent). That led directly to one goal, and it helped it possess the puck more. Even when it didn’t, however, Schilling was there to slam the door.
Note: The series finale is Saturday at 5 p.m.
©First Line Editorial 2021
