ABSOLUTE POWER CRUNCHES

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 9, 2008 | by BOB STEPHENS

Air Force ended its home season in style at Cadet Ice Arena on Saturday.

The thirdseeded Falcons scored on three power plays to beat eighth-seeded Bentley 3-1 before 1,256 fans and win their bestof- three series with room to spare in the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament.

Air Force drubbed Bentley 9-2 Friday in the series opener.

"Special teams and goaltending are so important and we were better at both," Air Force coach Frank Serratore said.

Air Force sophomore goalie Andrew Volkening nearly posted his fourth shutout, but Bentley's Dain Prewitt scored with 4:48 remaining.

Midway through the first period, Air Force scored twice in 36 seconds for a 2-0 lead. Junior right winger Brent Olson scored his team-high 15th goal when Air Force enjoyed a two-man advantage.

With Air Force still on the power play, junior defenseman Greg Flynn made it 2-0 with a rocket backhander from the left side.

AFA sophomore center Jeff Hajner matched Flynn with his 15th goal with 3:59 elapsed in the second period for a 3-0 lead.

"Being able to score three power-play goals was huge for our team," Flynn said. "You've got to capitalize in those situations. That took a lot of wind out of their sails."

Air Force (19-11-6) is unbeaten in its past seven games. Bentley (9-21-6) finished its season with five straight losses.

The Falcons will meet No. 2 seed Rochester Institute of Technology -- which disposed of No. 9 Holy Cross in two games -- at Rochester, N.Y., on Saturday as AHA Final Five action begins.

Army is the league's No. 1 seed.

"Army is the hottest team in our league by a country mile," Serratore said of the Cadets, who are 13-1-1 in their past 15 games. "But we're the second hottest. I like our chances. We're bringing a good team to Rochester and we're playing our best hockey."

Air Force won the AHA Tournament last year as the No. 4 seed to earn its only NCAA Tournament bid.

"It's do-or-die now," Olson said. "Every game is a onegame playoff."

Rough play increased late in the second period. Air Force led 3- 0 and had outshot the visitors 33-15. The second period had 16 penalties, 11 in the final 4:09, and ended with three players from each team in the penalty box.

"How can you not get frustrated after we've scored 12 goals on them in the last two nights, as you see your season slipping away," Flynn said, referring to Bentley.

AHA FINAL FIVE

Air Force vs. RIT at Rochester, N.Y. 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 1300 AM