AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Andrew Volkening recorded his third straight Atlantic Hockey Association tournament shutout as he made 29 saves in a 3-0 win Friday over Army in the first game of a three-game AHA quarterfinal series.
Volkening recorded shutouts in the semifinals and championship games in last year’s AHA Final Four. Volkening has a tournament shutout streak of 218 consecutive minutes that dates to last season’s quarterfinals. The shutout was his fourth of the season and the 15th of his career.
Air Force improved to 15-14-6 overall this season, while Army fell to 11-17-7 overall.
Sean Bertsch gave Air Force a 1-0 lead 1:38 into the game. The Falcons clung to the lead until late in the second period when they scored two goals in 96 seconds.
Bertsch’s second of the game and third in the last two games came at the 16:00 mark on a rebound. Derrick Burnett’s ninth of the year came at 17:36.
“A question with our team this season was our depth, and our depth was pretty darn good tonight,” AFA coach Frank Serratore said. “There is not a pretty way to win these games. You have to grind them out, and we did. And when we faltered, Volkening was there.”
Air Force outshot Army 38-29 in the game. AFA was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Army was 0-for-5.
The two teams will play at 7:05 p.m. tonight in Game 2 of the three-game series. If Air Force wins Saturday’s game, it will advance to the AHA Final Four in Rochester, N.Y., March 19-20.
If Army wins Saturday’s game, the deciding third game will be at 7:05 p.m. Sunday.
Minn.-Duluth 3, Colorado College 2 (OT)
• DULUTH, Minn. — Mike Connolly scored the game-winner at 13:18 of overtime Friday as Minnesota-Duluth beat Colorado College in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff opener.
The best-of-three series continues tonight.
Rob Bordson had two goals for the Bulldogs (21-15-1) and Nick Dineen answered with a pair of goals for Colorado College (18-16-3).
Bordson’s second goal at 12:38 of the third period came on the power play and tied the game at 2-2.
Connolly beat Joe Howe after the Tigers’ netminder made six saves in the extra period.
Howe finished with 32 saves, while Kenny Reiter stopped 19 for the Bulldogs.
