Air Force’s suddenly turbo-charged offense was at it again Friday night.

The Falcons knocked off AIC, one of the teams ahead of them in the Atlantic Hockey standings, 6-2, at Cadet Arena. The game featured strong special teams play and the highly unusual changing of a goalie on the fly.

Chris Hedden had two goals and an assist, and four other players scored for the Falcons (11-11-1, 8-4-1 AHA), who moved into fourth place, just two points behind the Yellow Jackets (12-10-1, 8-6-1) and four back of RIT. Guy Blessing made 25 saves.

Offense Shows More Balance

Air Force scored twice in each period, and two positives emerged.

Not only are the Falcons starting to score in bunches (16 goals in the past three games, all AHA victories), but several of their hibernating scorers are heating up.

Wing Nate Horn and center Andrew DeCarlo scored for the second game in a row after not scoring in the first 21 games. Horn tied the score with 9:57 left in the first after Alexander Malinowski gave the guests a lead 3:07 in. DeCarlo made it 3-1 6:22 into the second when he retrieved a loose puck in the slot, skated to the left and beat Nils Wallstrom (22 saves).

Special Teams Contribute Three Goals

The other positive development is Air Force’s special teams continued to be just that.

Luke Rowe hammered in a power-play goal with 1:53 to go in the first to give AFA the lead for good. Hedden’s first goal came on a five-on-three power play with 9:29 to go in the game. Air Force went 2 for 6 on the power play.

The penalty kill got equal time as Austin Schwartz stole the puck at the Falcons line and outsprinted the AIC defense to score on a breakaway to make it 4-1 with 9:30 to go in the second. It was Schwartz’s first goal since his OT shortie on Oct. 21 at Alaska Anchorage and his third SHG of the season.

How about a short handed goal 😏 pic.twitter.com/SskApwpOcm

— Air Force Hockey (@AF_HKY) January 13, 2024

That was a plus-1 for a PK that went 6 for 6 against a team scoring the second-most goals in AHA (3.14 per game).

Goaltender Mania

The game also featured two bizarre goaltender incidents.

Blessing needed a skate repair that sent him to the Falcons’ locker room midway through the third period. Backup Maiszon Balboa relieved him temporarily. With a defenseman holding the puck behind the AFA net, Blessing returned during live action — a goalie line change. He drew a whistle after falling and knocking the net off its moorings.

AIC coach Eric Lang pulled Wallstrom with 7:10 to go in the game and Air Force up 5-2. Hedden shot the puck out of deep in the AFA zone 1:03 later for the final margin. Wallstrom stood on the bench with his back to the ice then and again after he was pulled again with 4:21 to go and AIC on a power play.

Next: The teams play at 4 p.m. Saturday.