AFA hockey: Three things to watch vs. Army
Third-seeded Air Force (14-14-6) hosts sixth-seeded Army (11-16-7) in a first-round Atlantic Hockey Association playoff series this week.
1. Win the goaltending battle
Two of the league’s better netminders square off. Army junior goalie Jay Clark (10-11-5, 2.93 goals against, .902 save percentage) stopped 67 of 72 shots for a 1-0-1 mark against Air Force in West Point, N.Y., earlier this season. Air Force counters with senior goalie Andrew Volkening (14-14-6, 2.54, .914), who has shown he’s capable of carrying the Falcons in the postseason. Volkening was chosen to represent the West in the NCAA Frozen Four skills competition April 9. Teammate Matt Fairchild was named an alternate.
2. Score first
Air Force is 11-2-4 when it scores first. With both teams struggling to score much of the season, scoring first would maintain the confidence started during both teams’ final regular-season series. Army scored 10 goals in a win and tie, while Air Force recorded 14 in its two wins.
3. Gain an edge on special teams
Air Force may enjoy an edge in special teams with the No. 2 penalty kill in the nation (138-of-157, 87.9 percent) against Army’s power play (16.8 percent), 42nd out of 58 Division I teams. Air Force’s power play is 13th (35-of-172, 20.3 percent) ,while Army’s penalty kill is 22nd (135-of-163, 82.8 percent). Neither team draws a lot of penalties (11.6 minutes for Air Force, 49th; 11.2 for Army, 50th) so whichever team does capitalize will enjoy a boost.
