Air Force's penalty kill sparks a road sweep

Scott Mathis, Tim Kirby and Paul Weisgarber killed Bentley’s comeback hopes, literally.

And Jason Torf cleaned up what was left Friday.

The first three killed off 2 minutes of 5-on-3 penalty time in the middle of the third period as Air Force clung to a one-goal lead. Torf finished with 39 saves in goal as Air Force finished with a 3-2 victory and a 2010-ending road sweep.

“I can’t remember two more character wins back to back,’’ Air Force coach Frank Serratore said after his team surpassed the .500 mark for the first time this season (8-7-2, 7-3-2 Atlantic Hockey Association).

“And how good were those three on that penalty kill?’’

Well, consider that Air Force was almost three minutes into killing a five-minute major penalty when they had to begin the 5-on-3. Bentley had a 17-7 shot advantage in the third period (41-34 for the game).

But no goals.

“Torf was solid, but he didn’t have to make a save on a back-door shot,’’ Serratore said.

In fact, the only goal on Bentley’s power play came in the second period, when Adam McKenzie scored short-handed for Air Force.

Air Force’s other two goals came on its power play, by Pine Creek’s Kyle DeLaurell and Derrick Burnett, who also assisted on DeLaurell’s goal. Air Force took a 3-0 lead before Ryan Kayfes and Justin Breton scored even-strength goals to get Bentley back in the game.