Wayne State’s Jack Redwood’s goal with 10 seconds remaining in the third period sent the game into overtime as the Warriors and Air Force skated to a 2-2 overtime tie Saturday at the Cadet Ice Arena.
The tie was the first of the season for both teams. Air Force is now 8-10-1 overall and 2-4-1 and in fourth place in the CHA. Wayne State is 6-11-1 overall and 1-3-1 in the CHA and in sixth place.
Warrior forward Derek MacKay opened the scoring 14 seconds into the game. His fifth of the season came from Dustin Kingston on the first rush up-ice.
Two minutes later, the Falcons tied the score on a breakaway. Seth Pelletier chipped the puck up the ice to Kyle Fransdal, who was skating up the left wing. With a defenseman in tow, Fransdal made a pass from the circle to a wide-open Carson Strang in the slot, and Strang scored his fourth of the season.
That was all the scoring until the third period. Wayne State outshot the Falcons 11-7 in the first period and 17-6 in the second.
After a skirmish in front of the Wayne State net, the Falcons had a 4-on-3 advantage and capitalized for a 2-1 lead. Shane Saum took a shot that was saved, but Andy Berg collected the rebound in front and scored his 17th goal of the season, his 11th power-play goal, at 10:17 of the third period.
With just over a minute left in the third, the Warriors pulled goaltender David Guerrera for an extra skater. WSU had one flurry and got off two shots before the Falcons cleared the puck to the other end of the ice.
The Warriors came back again with another rush and put more pressure on the Falcon defense. Jason Durbin collected the puck behind the Air Force net and passed to Redwood near the left post. With Falcon goaltender Mike Polidor laying on the ice, Redwood lifted his shot high to the far corner with 10 seconds remaining.
Air Force had three shots in the overtime period while WSU had two. Midway through the extra period, Saum took a shot from the right side of the crease that got past Guerrera and hit the post.
WSU outshot Air Force 43-25 in the game. The Falcons were 1-for-5 on the power play while the Warriors were 0-for-5.
Polidor made a season-high 41 saves for the Falcons, three shy of his career high set last season vs. Alabama-Huntsville. Guerrera made 23 for the Warriors.
Air Force and Wayne State conclude the two-game conference series Sunday at 5:05 p.m. MT.
