Air Force (6-14-2, 2-9-1 AHA) vs. Niagara (11-9-2, 5-7-1)
Friday, 7 p.m., and Saturday, 4 p.m., at Cadet Arena
TV/Streaming/Radio: Altitude (Sat.) / FloHockey.tv / 1300 AM
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
For Air Force, it sounds fairly simple – put pucks in the Purple Eagles’ net and build a lead. But that’s been easier said than done because 2023 has started much like 2022 ended, with goals being tough to come by for a Falcons team that has a lot of scoring talent. Air Force has just four goals in the first four games of the New Year, its losing streak has grown to nine games, and they’re last in the Atlantic Hockey standings. The Falcons have 14 games over the next six weeks to make up at least six points on eighth-place Canisius, or they won’t qualify for the AHA quarterfinals.
The first step toward doing that is taking some points this weekend against a Niagara team that just was swept by Bentley, which is one spot ahead of Air Force (those teams split earlier this season). It behooves the Falcons to score first – they’re 4-2-1 when that happens, but 2-12-1 when the other team strikes first. Think about it, Air Force has had the first goal in a game just seven times in 22 starts. First games of weekends have not been kind either for the Falcons, as they’re 2-8-1 in those but 4-6-1 in second games.
Who will be back in the Falcons’ lineup is another good question. Down their top two goalies last weekend, senior Austin Park made his first two NCAA starts and played pretty well once he settled in, making 55 saves. It’s possible Maiszon Balboa could return, but he might need another week. Starter Guy Blessing is not expected to be available this weekend. … The Falcons also have been without forwards Brian Adams, Lucas Coon and Ty Pochipinski, all of whom would help the second six and penalty kill. … Speaking of the penalty kill, Air Force cannot have another 17-penalty weekend (as it did against Holy Cross). The Crusaders got five power-play goals in the two games. … A big strength for the Falcons is turning out to be face-offs – Clayton Cosentino leads AHA with a 58.4 percent win rate, while fellow sophomore Andrew DeCarlo is fifth (55.6). … Wing Will Gavin is heating up. The junior has three goals in his past six games and scored in both games last weekend.
If there is any consolation, it’s that Niagara is coming to town slumping as well. The Purple Eagles were swept by Bentley by a cumulative 12-4 last weekend, and they have lost three in a row and five of eight. From late October through November, however, they notched six wins in a row plus a seventh in a shootout. Casey Carreau, a grad transfer from Boston College, leads Niagara with 19 points (14 assists). Another grad student, Ryan Cox, is on his way to making his fifth season at Niagara his best – he has a team-high nine goals (two off his career high) and 18 points (one of his personal best). Senior Chad Veltri carries the mail in net, with a 10-7-2 record, .906 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average.
©First Line Editorial 2023
