Hockey: Air Force comes from behind for 5-3 win at Canisius

  • Published
  • By Dave Toller
  • U.S. Air Force Academy
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AFPN) --  Air Force came from behind with three third-period goals for a 5-3 win over Canisius in an Atlantic Hockey Association game Friday night at the Buffalo State Sports Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

With the win, Air Force improved to 5-5-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the AHA. Canisius fell to 1-9 overall and 1-5 in the AHA.

Air Force scored first when Josh Schaffer scored from Greg Flynn and Brian Gineo at 4:38 on the power play. Canisius tied the score at the 7:56 mark when Josh Heidinger scored from Jason Weeks and David Kasch. With 31 seconds left in the first period, Eric Ehn gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead. His 11th goal of the season was unassisted.

Canisius scored the next two goals of the game to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period. Chris Forsman scored from Heidinger and Joel Kitchen at the 5:35 mark of the second period. Then, early in the third period, the Golden Griffins took a 3-2 lead on the power play. Carl Hudson's sixth of the season came from Joey Coccimiglio and Kyle Bushee.

The Golden Griffins held the lead until the final seven minutes of the game. At the 11:32 mark, Scott Follett was called for a tripping penalty. Just 52 seconds later, Bushee was called for slashing and the Falcons had 1:08 of a 5-on-3 advantage.

Air Force capitalized, scoring two goals in a span of 43 seconds. Ehn's second of the game and national-leading 12th of the season came from Michael Mayra and Mike Phillipich to tie the game at 3-3 at the 13:22 mark. While still on the power play, Gineo scored at 14:05 from Ehn and Schaffer for a 4-3 lead.

With under a minute remaining in the third period, the Griffs pulled their goalie and Phillipich slid one in the empty net to make the final score 5-3. His game-sealing goal came from Josh Print and Chris Hepp.

Air Force outshot Canisius in every period and 30-20 in the game. Junior Ian Harper had 17 saves for Air Force while Bryce Luker had 25 for the Golden Griffins. AFA was 3-for-13 on the power play. Canisius was 1-for-11.

"There were a lot of penalties in the game and a lot of momentum swings," head coach Frank Serratore said. "Our power play was not clicking in the game, but the guys never gave up on it. Then we scored two power-play goals late in the third to go ahead. Then after we took the lead, we had to kill a penalty with three minutes left. But the guys kept battling and stuck with it."

The same two teams conclude the series Nov. 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time in Buffalo.

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