Air Force played its most complete game in weeks and one of its better road games of the entire season in defeating Bentley, 4-1, in an Atlantic Hockey game with major postseason implications.
The victory, sparked by two goals from sophomore Nate Horn, an exceptional penalty kill and 29 saves by senior goalie Alex Schilling, moved Air Force (12-15-2, 10-11-2 AHA) into into sixth place in the conference, one point ahead of Niagara and just two behind Sacred Heart and RIT, which sit in fourth. Bentley (12-16-1, 10-12-1) fell to ninth. The top six teams earn first-round byes in AHA’s postseason tournament. Seeds seven and eight play host to first-round matchups.
Air Force won its first game in regulation since it defeated Mercyhurst 5-3 on Jan. 22 on the strength of another strong start by Schilling, who steered aside several point-blank chances early in the game and faced seven Bentley power plays.
Horn gave Air Force a 1-0 lead with just 1:40 to play in the first period when a pass by Willie Reim caromed off the end board to Horn in the slot, the winger made a nifty forehand-backhand play to get the puck around a prone Evan DeBrouwer (28 saves).
Bentley tied things 4:50 into the second when Cole Kodsi scored on a beautiful backhand wraparound on Schilling. It was Exhibit A of Bentley getting behind AFA defenders for prime chances. That changed after that, however.
Austin Schwartz returned the favor when he got a step on a Bentley defender and took a nice left to right feed from Brian Adams, who had gathered the puck along the wall. Schwartz wristed a shot over DeBrouwer’s left shoulder to make it 2-1 with 6:47 to play.
Bennett Norlin extended the lead just under three minutes later on a great, hard-working shorthanded goal. The junior got his first of the season when he won a puck battle at the Bentley net.
That tally highlighted a 7-for-7 night for the AFA penalty kill, which included a 5-on-3 kill midway through the third period.
Horn left no doubt to the outcome with his 10th goal of the season, taking a Reim pass as he steamed into the circles and going upstairs on DeBrouwer.
Notes: Air Force went 0-for-3 on the power play. … AIC clinched its fourth consecutive Atlantic Hockey regular-season title Friday. … The teams play again at 2 p.m. MST Saturday.
©First Line Editorial 2022
