Army Forces Game Three in Series with Air Force

Saturday, March 10

West Point, NY

7:05 PM

Army West Point

16-13-6, 12-10-6AHA

Air Force - Quarterfinals

18-14-5, 13-11-4AHA

Air Force

Army West Point

Army Forces Game Three in Series with Air Force

March 10, 2018 | Hockey

Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point hockey team's 1-0 victory on Saturday night forces a game-three contest with Air Force on Sunday night. It is the second consecutive season that the Black Knights play in the Sunday decision game in the quarterfinals.

Tickets for Sunday's game (7:05 p.m.) can be purchased at this link.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Army defeated the Falcons on home ice for the second time in two season.
The Black Knights are now 3-1-0 against Air Force in 2017-18.
It was the Cadets' first postseason victory over the Falcons since both teams joined the AHA.
Army skated a perfect penalty kill unit tonight denying Air Force in all six man-advantage situations.
The victory was Cole Bruns' fourth shutout victory of the year and second against Air Force this season.
Bruns notched 33 saves to mark his eighth 30-or-higher save game during his senior campaign.
Zach Evancho netted the lone goal of the game on an Army power play.
The sophomore now tallies three goals on the man-advantage this year and 11 in his career.
It was Evancho's 21st goal, 38th point and third game-winner in his career.
Tallying assists were Dominic Franco and Tyler Pham.
Franco has now recorded a point in the last seven contests for the Black Knights.
He now boasts 18 assists on the year and 30 points.
Pham has reached 68 career assists and has 97 points throughout his four years.
Blake Box notched five blocks on the night to lead both sides, while Pham, Alex Wilkinson and Mike Preston each had three.
Trevor Fidler skated in his 100th career game tonight.
Army improves to 13-3-3 when scoring first and 11-6-5 when scoring a power play goal.
It was the Black Knights first win this year when scoring just one goal.

HOW IT HAPPENED
PERIOD ONE (ARMY 1 – AIR FORCE 0)

Army went on the first power play of the game and, similar to last night, was able to capitalize.
Pham dropped the puck to Franco who backhanded the puck through the crease to Evancho who buried it nine minutes in.

PERIOD TWO (ARMY 1 – AIR FORCE 0)

The second period featured much back-and-forth action.
During an Army penalty kill, three Army players notched blocks to prevent a good look by the Falcons.
John Laurito ringed one off the pipe with four minutes remaining for a close Army opportunity.

PERIOD THREE (ARMY 1 – AIR FORCE 0)

The excitement continued to build in the final frame.
The teams exchanged a few penalties in the stretch and it all came down to the final two minutes.
Air Force pulled its netminder with 1:43 to go, but the Army defense stood its ground and prevented a tying goal.

UP NEXT

The Black Knights will host the Falcons Sunday night for the final game of the matchup. Winner advances to Rochester for the Atlantic Hockey Semifinals on Friday.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here.

For more information on Army hockey, please follow @ArmyWP_Hockey on Twitter and Instagram.