Maybe Air Force should keep its Saturday start times at 7 p.m. instead of the usual 5 p.m. Maybe it was the throwback jerseys.

Whatever the reason, the Falcons played an inspired game and ended a couple of regrettable streaks at the expense of Niagara with a 3-2 victory.

First, they won a Saturday game for the first time in nine tries this season. Air Force had been 0-6-2 on the sixth day. Second, they swept a series for the first time this season – games 19 and 20.

Coupled with taking five of six points from Canisius before the holiday break, the Falcons (7-11-2, 5-7-2-2 AHA) have interjected themselves back in the Atlantic Hockey conversation as they head into their final six AHA series of the season.

To do that, Air Force had to win another one-goal decision against Niagara (6-14-2, 5-6-2-1). In the teams’ fourth meeting of the campaign, three of have been decided by one goal and the fourth went to a shootout that Air Force won. Overall, the Falcons took 8 of a possible 12 points from the Purple Eagles.

“After (getting swept at) AIC (last weekend) we had a sour taste in our mouths,” said forward Nate Horn, who scored the winning goal and helped set up the first one. “We came out (Friday) night and had a hot start, but it wasn’t as clean of a victory as we wanted. We hadn’t had a clean sweep this year so it’s now or never, we’ve got to start pushing in the right direction toward the playoffs. It was a really good weekend.”

Willie Reim scored his team-high eighth goal of the season, and freshman defenseman Mitchell Digby scored for the second night in a row. Fellow freshman Guy Blessing made 18 saves to win his second start in a row.

First strike, again

Some other trends emerged this weekend.

For one, the Falcons scored first, something they did in back-to-back games this weekend and for only the fifth and sixth times this season.

“It’s not so much that we’re getting the first goal, it’s what we’re doing to get the first goal,” co-captain Luke Rowe said. “Yesterday and today we came out of the gate the first five minutes I thought we were dominant. The goals will come but it’s the energy you come out with. That’s what led us to victory.”

That served to get the top line, which has been good lately but was shut out Friday, back on track.

Center Andrew DeCarlo initiated the play by carrying the puck into the zone and finding Horn, who got the puck back to him before he found Reim on the backdoor side.

“Decs made a really good pass to me, then I was able to get it back to him, and he made an unbelievable play to Willie,” Horn said. “It was good to get out to a hot start on a Saturday. We’re a lot better team when we jump on them early.”

Added head coach Frank Serratore, “Willie Reim drove the net, and it was a nice pass to the net front. They don’t always turn out that way, but that’s how you design them.”

Horn, who ended a 12-game goal-less streak, got the winner on a power play in the final five minutes of the second period. Digby got the puck to Clayton Cosentino at the Niagara goal mouth. His backhand shot hit starting goalie Michael Corson in the chest. Horn gathered the rebound to the goalie’s right and made it 3-1. That was the Falcons’ second power-play goal of the game.

“It gets more and more important down the stretch as teams tighten up defensively,” Horn said. “When you get an advantage you want to make it hurt, especially with these type of games. … I was benefactor of a really good play by Digs and Clay. Those are the gifts. That was a reward for their hard work.”

Growing up fast

The first power-play goal gave Air Force the lead for good 6:37 into the second period, and it came courtesy of Digby, who tallied his third on the weekend when he took a point-to-point pass from Brandon Koch and roofed the shot over Corson’s left shoulder.

Niagara had tied it midway through the first when Walker Sommer scored for the third time this season against his former school, this time short-handed.

Digby’s strike was the fourth goal on the weekend by freshmen defensemen who gained bigger roles with leading scorer Sam Brennan in Covid protocol. Drake Usher also scored on Friday.

Blessing, playing because senior Alex Schilling had not practiced all week due to protocol, turned in a second consecutive solid start.

“Next guy up,” Rowe said. “Blessing comes in, he’s unbelievable. It’s the same thing with our defenseman, Digby’s constantly in the lineup and he plays a big role. Usher stepped up into a bigger role playing with (Luke) Robinson instead of Brennan. We just have that depth.”

Tale of two games

Friday, the Falcons darted to a 4-1 lead and took a 5-3 lead into the third. Saturday, they again held a two-goal edge. Yet the sequel had a much different feel.

“I thought we were more in control, especially in the third period,” Serratore said. “We got ourselves in a lot of trouble (Friday night with penalties).

“Tonight we had to kill one at the end that they made a 6-on-4 and we got it done. I thought we managed the game and managed the situation better. We found a way to get the lead, and I thought we managed our game a lot better.

“We didn’t give them much.”

©First Line Editorial 2022