Atlantic Hockey Weekend Preview

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With the end of the regular season just three weeks away, all 12 teams are battling for playoff position for this year’s tournament.

Air Force will be facing its fourth straight opponent from New York and making its third trip to the Empire State in the last four weeks, as the Falcons take on Niagara at Dwyer Arena.  Air Force used a weekend sweep of RIT  and a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) to move into first place in the standings.  The Purple Eagles saw their seven-game winning streak ended last Saturday against Mercyhurst, as Niagara split with the Lakers.  Earlier this season the Falcons defeated the Purple Eagles, 3-2 in overtime in Colorado.  Niagara holds a 28-14-3 advantage over Air Force in the all-time series.

American International and Bentley will play a home-and-home series this weekend.  The Yellow Jackets and the Falcons will face-off Friday night in Watertown and then travel west to Springfield for the Saturday night encounter.  Bentley has garnered six points in its last five outings to move into sixth place, while American Int’l looks to rebound from a weekend sweep at the hands of Holy Cross.  The Falcons defeated the Yellow Jackets, 4-1 back on November 11, as Bentley extends its lead in the all-time series to 20-18-4. 

Army will host Holy Cross this weekend at Tate Rink, as both squads are riding two-game winning streaks entering the weekend.  The Black Knights topped Connecticut, 4-2 Tuesday night and defeated Bentley 3-1 last Saturday.  The Crusaders used a sweep of American International last weekend for their two-game streak.  Army will look to continue its momentum to climb out of the bottom four for a First Round home playoff series, while Holy Cross sits four points out of the top four and a First Round bye.  The Crusaders and the Black Knights last met on December 10, with Holy Cross earning a 3-1 victory over Army.  The Black Knights still lead the all-time series with a 27-23-8 mark over the Crusaders.

Canisius and RIT will play an unconventional weekend series, as the Griffs and Tigers will face-off Thursday night in Buffalo and then again on Saturday night in Rochester.  RIT fell from first place in the standings after being swept by Air Force, but sit two points out of the top spot.  Canisius earned a weekend split with Robert Morris and the Griffs sit six points out of a spot in the top four.  Canisius defeated RIT, 3-1 back on October 20 at Buffalo State, but the Tigers lead the all-time series with the Griffs, 44-11-1.

Connecticut will take on Sacred Heart for Nutmeg State supremacy this weekend, with Friday night’s contest in Storrs and then the two teams will travel to Bridgeport for a Saturday afternoon affair at the Webster Bank Arena.  The Huskies sit in a tie for seventh in the standings, just four points behind fourth place, while the Pioneers earned a point last weekend, garnering a 3-3 tie with Bentley.  Connecticut topped Sacred Heart, 8-3, back on November 16 at the Freitas Ice Forum, as the Huskies hold a slim 25-23-3 advantage over the Pioneers in the all-time series.

Mercyhurst and Robert Morris face-off for Keystone State supremacy with the two teams taking to the ice in Erie on Friday night and then traveling to Pittsburgh on Saturday.  The Lakers, who are in second place in the standings, hold a three-point advantage over the fifth place Colonials.  Robert Morris has won the only meeting this year, 4-3, over Mercyhurst back on November 11 in Erie, but the Lakers hold a 3-2-2 advantage over the Colonials in the all-time series.

In a mid-week series, Canisius and Niagara will play a home-and-home set on Tuesday in Buffalo and then Thursday in Niagara.  The Griffs and the Purple Eagles last met on November 15, with the final result being a 1-1 draw.  Niagara holds the lead in the all-time series with Canisius, 14-8-2.