It took almost five periods, but Air Force finally figured out Alaska Anchorage and goaltender Jared Whale.
Austin Schwartz capped a four-goal rally with a shorthanded breakaway goal in overtime to lift the Falcons to a 4-3 non-conference victory and series split.
Junior goalie Guy Blessing made 25 saves, including a couple of game-savers in the third period, for Air Force. Whale, who stoned the Falcons on Friday, stopped 18 shots. The timing could not have been better for the Falcons, who have two huge games coming up next weekend.
Rematch Had Sideways Potential
Air Force fell behind for the second night in a row, but this was much worse than Friday. The Seawolves (3-3) seized a 3-0 lead in the first 28:16 of the game on two goals by Ben Almquist and a nice redirect by Max Helgeson. The Falcons managed just one shot on goal in the first period Saturday and had been outshot 22-10 after periods.
But the resilience they showed in rallying last Friday against Michigan State appeared again, and special teams played a huge role.
Special Teams Spark Air Force Rally
Senior Will Gavin gave Air Force a chance when he scored on a power play with 1:55 to go in the second. UAA had controlled play almost universally up to that point. Gavin took a pass from Chris Hedden and buried a one-timer from his off-wing.
Luke Rowe took a five-minute penalty for hitting from behind with 27 seconds left in the second and Air Force down 3-1. That could have removed all doubt about the outcome, but the Falcons came to their co-captain’s aid.
Sophomore Mason McCormick drew the Falcons to a goal when he scored a shorthanded goal 1:40 into the third period during that five-minute penalty kill. That energized Air Force further and suddenly it was a new game.
Once he served his time, Rowe then tied the score, on Hedden’s third assist of the game, with a blast from the left point with 12:01 to go in regulation.
Blessing took over from there, making at least three highlight-reel saves.
Schwartz finished things while the Falcons were on a 4-on-3 kill in overtime. He gained possession of the puck in the right circle and jetted down the ice. He hit the afterburner as he crossed the Seawolves line and put the puck between Whale’s pads.
What The Win Means
The Falcons rebuilt a measure of confidence with the comeback win, and it came at an opportune time. Dates with Colorado College, which swept Long Island this weekend, and No. 2 Denver, which defeated No. 3 Boston College on Saturday, loom next weekend.
The game against the Tigers offers an opportunity to reclaim the Pikes Peak Trophy. The Denver game provides a chance to see how the Falcons measure up against one of the nation’s top teams in its barn.
Going in 3-3 with a stirring comeback is far more preferable than stumbling in 2-4 on a three-game slide and having been swept by an Anchorage team that the Falcons swept last fall.
Anchorage Won Friday, 3-1
Whale made 32 saves and the Seawolves never trailed in taking a 3-1 win in the opener.
Junior defenseman Mitchell Digby scored a power-play goal for the Falcons, who went 1-for-4 with a man advantage. Blessing made 21 saves. Aiden Westin, Matt Allen and Helgeson scored for UAA.
©First Line Editorial 2023
