Falcons host first-place Robert Morris, Feb. 19-20
2/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
This Week
Air Force (15-10-5 overall, 13-6-5 AHC) hosts the first-place Robert Morris Colonials (18-8-4, 15-5-4 AHC) in a two-game Atlantic Hockey Conference series, Friday-Saturday, Feb. 19-20. Friday's game starts at 7:05 pm while Saturday's game is at 5:05 pm. Air Force is currently in second place in the league with 31 points, three points behind the Colonials. Robert Morris, currently receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll, took three points from Air Force in week two, Oct. 16-17, in Pittsburgh.
The Playoff Picture
The goal in the regular-season in Atlantic Hockey is to finish in the top four of the league, which means a first-round bye and home ice in the quarterfinals. The fifth-place team gets a first-round bye, but then goes on the road in the quarterfinals. With two weekends, eight points available, Robert Morris is in first place with 34 points. After that just four points separate the next four teams: Air Force (31), RIT (30), Holy Cross (29) and Mercyhurst (27). Air Force is six points ahead of sixth-place Canisius (25). The Falcons could clinch a first-round bye this weekend against Robert Morris, but not necessarily home ice.
Late Afternoon at Cadet Ice Arena
Saturday's game against Robert Morris will start at 5:05 pm MT at the Cadet Ice Arena.
Trending
Air Force is 8-1 in games decided by one goal this season ... Air Force has just one player with 20 or more points, but has 10 with 11 or more points ... Five of Air Force's top seven scorers are sophomores ... Senior Ben Carey leads the team with 20 points ... Air Force has taken two or more points in nine straight league series ... Air Force has held its opponents to 29 shots or less 22 times in 30 games ... The Falcons rank first in the conference and 12th in the nation at 85.1 percent on the penalty kill ... AF leads the league in shots allowed per game at just 25.7 (eighth in nation) and in scoring defense at 2.39 goals per game (17th in nation).
Senior Night
Air Force's three seniors, Ben Carey, Chris Dylewski and Max Hartner, will make their final regular-season home appearance on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Cadet Ice Arena. The class has already won 69 (entering this weekend) games and have never lost to Army, posting 6-0-2 record against the Black Knights. This class has held the Pikes Peak Trophy for three straight seasons, earning a 3-1 record the last three years. The class also owns two wins over top five teams, beating No. 4 Providence as sophomores and No. 5 Denver earlier this season.
Scouting the Colonials
Robert Morris is in first place in the league with 34 points, 18-8-4 overall and 15-5-4 in the conference. RMU has won four of the last five, after splitting. two home games with Army last weekend. The Colonials are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. RMU features two of the top three scorers in the league as senior Zac Lynch leads the league with 42 points and Greg Gibson is tied for second with 40. Gibson leads the league with 22 goals while Lynch is second with 20. Senior Terry Shafer has seen the most action in goal. He leads the league with a .936 saves percentage and is second with a 2.24 GAA. Shafer has started 10 straight for the Colonials.
Series vs. Robert Morris
Air Force and Robert Morris have played 28 times and the series is dead even at 13-13-2. RMU is unbeaten in the last four vs. Air Force (3-0-1). The Falcons have just one win over the Colonials since 2013, going 1-5-2 vs. RMU. The teams played twice earlier this season and RMU took three points in Pittsburgh in week two of the season. The teams met four times last season and RMU won the series, 2-1-1. In games in Colorado, Air Force is 8-7 vs. the Colonials. Last season, RMU swept the Falcons at the Cadet Ice Arena.
