Feb. 5, 2008

Erie, Pa. -

Complete Release in PDF Format

Another critical weekend looms as Mercyhurst, 9-6-5 and tied for fourth in Atlantic Hockey, squares off against Air Force, 10-8-4 and tied for second, this Friday and Saturday nights at 7:35 and 7:05 respectively at the Ice Center. The Lakers are 9-14-5 overall while the Falcons sport a 13-10-5 slate. The all-time series is tied at 3-3-0. Both teams won a game last November in a weekend series in Colorado.

Mercyhurst has climbed to within three points of first-place RIT following a 2-1-3 road trip and a 7-1-3 mark in its last eleven conference games. The Lakers won twice at Holy Cross last weekend by scores of 6-3 and 2-1. The Lakers picked up seven of a possible dozen points in the six-game swing despite scoring the first goal of the game only once.

The Falcons, who led the conference earlier in the New Year, have fallen into a tie for second after going 1-3-1 in their last five Atlantic Hockey contests. Air Force went 1-0-1 last weekend in a pair of games with Bentley at the USAF Academy in Colorado. The teams played to a 4-4 overtime Friday before Air Force prevailed 3-1 Saturday.

Between Friday night's second and third period, 27 area young men and women will be sworn in under the Air Force's Delayed Enlistment Program.

Fast Facts

• The Lakers are 7-1-3 in their last eleven conference games.

• After a 9-game scoring streak, senior Ben Cottreau snapped a 3-game dry spell with an assist last Saturday at Holy Cross.

• The Lakers have scored a power play goal in seven of their last eight games.

• Mercyhurst has already equaled its conference wins of last season (9) with 8 conference contests left in the regular season (5h, 3a).

• The Lakers have scored more than three goals in a game only six times in their first 28 contests. They are 6-0-0 when doing so.

• Mercyhurst has played seven overtime games this season, 0-5-2. They played a club-record ten last year.

• Mercyhurst has been outshot in 18 of 28 games and has won only once (RIT) when trailing after two periods.

• Sophomore Neil Graham had his first career shorthanded goal in Saturday's 2-1 win at Holy Cross. It proved to be the game-winner.

• Freshman Mike Gurtler scored his first career power play goal last Saturday and junior goalie Matt Lundin picked up his first career assist on Graham's shorthanded game-winner.

• The line of Gurtler, Chris Risi, and Graham was Mercyhurst's most productive at Holy Cross. The trio combined for 4 goals (including both game-winners) and four assists in the two wins.

• The two road wins last weekend doubled the number of road victories this season from 2 to 4.

• The Lakers and Falcons are tied 3-3-0 in the all-time series. Air Force became the first team to defend its home ice successfully when it won 6-2 Saturday, November 3, in Colorado. The visiting team had won all five prior meetings until then. Air Force won twice in Erie last season, its first in Atlantic Hockey, by scores of 5-3 and 3-1.

• Mercyhurst had a total of 3 power play goals (3 of 10) and a shorthanded marker in the split at Air Force last November. The Falcons finished 2 of 17 with the man advantage. Both power play goals came in the third period of the second contest, the last with two seconds left, and both were 6-on-4 situations.

• The Lakers were picked to finish fourth this season in the 10-team Atlantic Hockey Association's pre-season coaches' poll. Air Force was picked second.

• The Lakers are tied for fourth in the tightly-bunched conference at the moment; Air Force is tied for second, just one point ahead of the Lakers.

• Air Force is the defending Atlantic Hockey playoff champion.