Manning nets shootout winner at Canisius

BUFFALO, N. Y. – Freshman Luke Manning scored in the second round of the shootout to give Air Force two points in a 3-3 overtime tie with Canisius in an Atlantic Hockey Association game, Friday, Feb. 7, at the Lecom Harborcenter in Buffalo, N.Y.

Air Force (8-14-5, 8-10-5 AHA) opened the scoring in the first three minutes of the game. Pierce Pluemer's shot from the left circle was saved and freshman Bennett Norlin put back the rebound for his first career goal at 2:35. Air Force took a 2-0 lead at 7:19 as freshman Blake Bride scored his third of the season from Ty Pochipinski and Shawn Knowlton. Late in the period, with the Falcons on the power play, Canisius broke free for a 2-on-0 short-handed breakaway. After a pass to the slot to Keegan Mastrodonato, Alex Schilling slid across to his left and made the pad save with just over a minute left in the period.

Early in the second period, Canisius won a scrum on the wall and Casey Jerry made a cross-ice pass to the weak side. Defenseman Matt Stief's one-timer put the Griffs on the board at 4:02.

Canisius tied the game early in the third period on the rush. Matt Stief set up Nick Hutchison right in front at 3:26. Midway through the third, Air Force turned the puck over at its own blue line and Matt Hoover scored unassisted on the breakaway for a 3-2 lead at 11:51. Less than two minutes later, the Falcons tied the game. Junior defenseman Alex Mehnert gained the zone and carried the puck down the left wing. His wrister from just inside the top of the left circle tied the game at 13:13. On the ensuing faceoff, Canisius' Hudson Lambert took a shot from the right point that was tipped in by Hutchison, but the goal disallowed due to a high stick.

Neither team scored in the 5-on-5 overtime so the game officially ended in a tie. After the scoreless 3-on-3 overtime, the game headed to a shootout, the third of the season for Air Force. Schilling made a save on a shot by Hutchison and then Shawn Knowlton's shot was saved by Jacob Barczewski. Hoover started the second round for the Griffs, but lost control of the puck before he took the shot. Manning then took the puck down the left side and snapped a wrister, five-hole, for the shootout winner.

Air Force outshot Canisius, 15-3, in the first period and 28-21 in the game. The Falcons were 0-for-2 on the power play while the Griffs were 0-for-1. Schilling made 18 saves for the Falcons while Barczewski made 25 for the Griffs.

"Our start was fantastic," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We got those two goals early and could have had a couple more. Schilling had to make a great save for us on the breakaway late in the period. There were some things we did really well and we still have some work to do. Both goalies played well. I really enjoy this team. I love their spirit and their resiliency."

Air Force and Canisius (7-15-5, 6-10-5 AHA) conclude the two-game conference series Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4:05 pm ET in Buffalo, N.Y.

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Team Stats

Alex Mehnert

Bennett Norlin

Blake Bride

Pierce Pluemer

Players Mentioned

Shawn Knowlton

Luke Manning

Alex Mehnert

Bennett Norlin

Pierce Pluemer

Ty Pochipinski

Alex Schilling

Players Mentioned

Shawn Knowlton

Luke Manning

Alex Mehnert

Bennett Norlin

Pierce Pluemer

Ty Pochipinski

Alex Schilling

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