Air Force (0-1-1) at Lindenwood (0-4-0)

Friday, 6 p.m. and Saturday, 1 p.m. at Maryland Heights, Mo.

Streaming / Radio: lindenwoodlions.com / 1300 AM (xtrasports1300.com)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Air Force produced six goals, five against No. 9 Notre Dame, in two Ice Breaker games last weekend. The power play accounted for four of those (two by Nate Horn vs. the Irish), so scoring at even strength is one key for the Falcons. Defensemen scored half of the six goals. … Sophomore goaltender Guy Blessing, the presumed starter, returned to practice this week and traveled with the team. He might make his season debut this weekend. If not, freshman Aaron Randazzo likely would get the call again. Randazzo faced nearly 70 shots vs. Maine and Notre Dame. … The Falcons have a handful of players out with injuries, including center Jacob Marti and defenseman Andrew Kruse. Forward Blake Bride missed Saturday’s game but also is on the trip.  … Besides the dearth of even-strength goals, Air Force was outshot an average of nearly 10 SOG per game last weekend (35-25), a very un-Falcons-like state. However, the Falcons won more than 52 percent of their face-offs and were relatively disciplined, taking just seven penalties in 125 minutes of game action. … Both special teams units were excellent. The power play went 4 for 7, and its 57.1 percent mark is second in the nation. The penalty kill is 16th (85.7 percent), again very good given the level of competition the Falcons started against.

Lindenwood is in its first year of Division I competition after winning an ACHA championship again last season. The Lions, who added seven Division I players via the transfer portal, are coming off consecutive road sweeps to highly ranked Big Ten teams. They are coming off 4-0 and 6-4 losses to No. 2 Minnesota and 7-4 and 3-1 losses to No. 6 Michigan. Two sophomore forwards – Kyle Jeffers, a transfer from AIC, and David Gagnon – lead the Lions with four points. Lindonwood played three goalies – including Canisius grad transfer Matt Ladd – in its opening two series. The Lions and Air Force played two early season exhibitions last fall and things got a big chippy at times. Expect plenty of hard-nosed play again.

©First Line Editorial 2022