Air Force hosts Bentley in AHC Quarterfinal series
3/7/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
This Week
No. 18 Air Force (22-9-5, 19-6-3 AHC) hosts Bentley (13-17-7, 10-12-6 AHC) in an Atlantic Hockey Conference best-of-three quarterfinal series, Friday-Saturday March 10-11, and Sunday, March 12 if necessary, at the Cadet Ice Arena. All game times are 7:05 p.m.
The Playoffs
In last weekend's first-round series, No. 11 Niagara upset No. 6 RIT by winning the deciding third game (4-1) on Sunday, March 5. No. 7 Mercyhurst swept No. 10 AIC in two games. No. 8 Bentley held off No. 9 Sacred Heart, winning the third game, 3-2 in double overtime. This week, No. 1 Canisius will host No. 11 Niagara, No. 2 Air Force will host No. 8 Bentley, No. 3 Army West Point will host No. 7 Mercyhurst while No. 4 Robert Morris will host No. 5 Holy Cross.
Radio/Internet/Live Stream
Both games will be broadcast on Xtra Sports 1300. Both games are available online at GoAirForceFalcons.com. Jay Ritchie will call the play-by-play while Dave Toller will provide color analysis. Pregame show begins 30 minutes before faceoff each day. Both games will be streamed on AtlanticHockey.tv for a subscription fee.
The National Rankings
Air Force is in the national rankings for the fifth straight week, standing at 18th in the USCHO.com poll. It is the fifth week the Falcons have been ranked this season: No. 18 on Oct. 10; No. 20 on Feb. 6; No. 19 on Feb. 13; No. 17 on Feb. 20; and No. 18 on Feb. 28. Air Force is 16th in the PairWise rankings and receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
Quick Strikes
* Air Force's 22 wins are tied as the third most in the nation (Denver 26 and Union 23).
* Air Force's 13 road wins are tied as the most in the nation (Union and UMass-Lowell).
* Air Force has earned a first-round bye in the AHC playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years.
* Air Force leads the nation in penalty kill at 89.2 percent.
* Air Force is 20-1-3 when scoring three or more goals in a game.
* Air Force's nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) was the fourth-longest in the nation before the 3-2 overtime loss to Sacred Heart, Feb. 25.
* Air Force and Bentley will meet in the playoffs for the third time. AF is 3-0 vs. Bentley in the playoffs.
* Air Force took three of four from Bentley this season, outscoring Bentley, 17-10
* AF is 26-10 all-time in the AHA playoffs and 14-8 all-time in the AHA quarterfinals
Trending
Evan Giesler has scored five goals in his last four games, including his first career hat trick in the win over RIT, Feb. 17 ... He scored a goal in both games against SHU, Feb. 24-25 ... Phil Boje has scored a point in eight of the last 10 games and is second in the league in points by defenseman in all games (7-18-25) ... Jordan Himley and Kyle Haak are tied for the team lead with 30 points ... Himley has 11 points in his last seven games (4-7-11) and has 18-12-30 on the season ... He leads the team, and is second in the conference, with 18 goals ... Haak had two points in the SHU series and 12-18-30 on the season ... Boje is third in the league in blocked shots (69) ... Air Force has had 30 or more shots on goal in eight of the last nine games season Air Force was 4-for-16 on the power play in the SHU series.
Series vs. Bentley
Air Force and Bentley have played 44 times and AF leads the series, 26-12-6. Air Force won three of four meetings this season. After a split at the Academy in October, Air Force swept Bentley, 6-1 and 5-1, in Massachusetts in February. In the last 14 meetings between the two teams, Air Force has only won five times as Bentley has a 6-5-3 advantage over Air Force. In games played at Academy, Air Force has an 11-6-4. However, recently, Bentley is one of the few Atlantic Hockey teams with a winning record at the Academy, going 4-2-2 in the last eight games at the Academy since 2012. Air Force and Bentley will meet for the third time in the AHC playoffs and AF is 3-0 vs. Bentley. In 2008, Air Force swept Bentley, 9-2 and 3-1, in the quarterfinals at the Academy. In 2009, Air Force blanked Bentley, 3-0, in the AHC semifinals. Air Force went on to win the AHC title and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight with a win over Michigan in the NCAA Regionals.
Earlier this Season vs. Bentley
Air Force and Bentley met four times this season and Air Force took six of the eight points. The teams split at the Academy in October as Air Force won the first game, 5-2 and Bentley won the second game, 6-1. In Massachusetts in February, Air Force swept the series by scores of 6-1 and 5-1. In the four game series, Air Force was 26.7 percent on the power play (4-for-15) while Bentley was 13.3 percent (13-of-15). Air Force outscored Bentley, 17-10, and outshot them 134-111, in the series. Kyle Haak had four goals and two assists in the series while Jordan Himley had one goal and five assists. Shane Starrett started all four games and had a 2.02 GAA and a .927 saves percentage. Bentley scored two short-handed goals in the series.
