{"id":82969,"date":"2018-01-04T09:31:38","date_gmt":"2018-01-04T15:31:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=82969"},"modified":"2020-08-24T15:38:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T20:38:59","slug":"week-atlantic-hockey-american-international-taking-steps-alter-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2018\/01\/04\/week-atlantic-hockey-american-international-taking-steps-alter-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week in Atlantic Hockey: American International taking steps to alter expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"<\/a>
AIC coach Eric Lang said that against Northeastern, “we weren\u2019t in survival mode for 60 minutes, and maybe it was quite the opposite\u201d (photo: Driscoll Photography).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At first glance on paper, the Northeastern-American International game last Saturday probably seemed like a sure bet.<\/p>\n

The No. 8-ranked Huskies, after all, have one of the nation\u2019s most prolific offenses, averaging over three goals per game with one of the nation\u2019s best power-play units. They paired that with one of the nation\u2019s best defenses and individual players likely to dot final awards and future NHL rosters.<\/p>\n

But 40 minutes into the game, the Huskies learned they didn\u2019t lead the Yellow Jackets in one major category never quantified on paper — heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a game plan to make sure that anything we gave up would be on the outside of the ice,\u201d AIC coach Eric Lang said. \u201cThey have a high-profile offense, and we defended it. There were big portions of the game where I thought we had them on their heels. We weren\u2019t in survival mode for 60 minutes, and maybe it was quite the opposite.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Huskies ultimately wound up with a 3-1 victory, but the game taught the nation that AIC is simply willing to bring the fight to anyone on any stage at any time. It limited the Huskies to a 12-8 shot advantage in the first period, then turned in a 12-7 advantage of its own in the second period despite being handed three penalty kills, only one of which resulted in a goal.<\/p>\n

The Huskies regained a one-goal advantage in the third period, scoring again on the power play, but never pulled away before a late-game, empty-net goal sealed AIC\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe power plays were 6-2 (for Northeastern), and usually the team with more power plays will have more shots,\u201d Lang said. \u201cBut we outchanced them five-on-five and outshot them five-on-five. I thought our guys were unbelievably resilient, and they had no back down in their game. That\u2019s a great sign for AIC hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s continuing the build of a reputation as one of college hockey\u2019s toughest outs.<\/p>\n

Saturday ended in defeat, but it\u2019s the fourth game decided by two or less goals against teams from bigger conferences. Earlier this year, AIC jumped out to a 3-0 lead and led 4-3 in the third period against Connecticut before ultimately falling 6-4. They followed it up with a strong showing the next night against Massachusetts, only losing 3-1.<\/p>\n

That led to the Penn State weekend, where another two-goal loss preceded an overtime win in Hockey Valley over a nationally-ranked opponent. In late November, the Yellow Jackets arguably outplayed Niagara but came up short 3-1 thanks to an empty netter.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, it happened again.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a modest step forward for a team changing its expectations, both internally and within the greater hockey community. In virtually every game, AIC has been competitive. That\u2019s hardly a silver lining for players who want to win, but that the Yellow Jackets are in that position to be angry at a result is in and of itself indicative of the program\u2019s new foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe part I liked most about Saturday was how genuinely disappointed our guys were (with the loss),\u201d Lang said. \u201cIt\u2019s no longer the standard for AIC to just hang (with teams). Our guys want to win those games. I told the guys that I loved how disappointed they were. I\u2019m hoping we can bank it and capture it and grow from it, and this will help our guys start to believe in (their performances).\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also something that can both battle harden and prepare the Yellow Jackets for a return to Atlantic Hockey play. They\u2019ll spend the majority of the season\u2019s second half on the road, playing only four road games between now and the end of February. They have road trips to Canisius, Mercyhurst and Air Force, with four games left against Holy Cross and a remaining game against one of their biggest rivals, Bentley. There\u2019s also the last nonconference game sprinkled in against UMass Lowell, on the road, right before the season\u2019s last three games.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guys are pretty glued into the metrics of what will make us more competitive,\u201d Lang said. \u201cWhen I first got here, we wanted to become more competitive. Right now in conference, we\u2019re giving up the least amount of shots on goal, and that\u2019s going to set us up for success. We\u2019re not scoring as much as we like, but we\u2019re defending really hard and defending the right way. I\u2019d rather have it that way and find ways to chip in than have to patch it defensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing to get to Rochester,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s the goal. And I feel like our group is as good as any to take that step.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Yellow Jackets play a home-and-home with Holy Cross this weekend. On Friday, they host the Crusaders at the MassMutual Center at 7:05 p.m. EST before heading to the Hart Center on Saturday, also at 7:05 p.m.<\/p>\n

On the defensive<\/h4>\n

Lang\u2019s claim that his team limits opponents\u2019 shot selection isn\u2019t wrong.<\/p>\n

The Yellow Jackets are allowing a sliver over 25 shots per game in Atlantic Hockey play. That\u2019s nearly a shot better than second-best Air Force, who enters this weekend with 25.9 shots allowed per game. They\u2019re the only two programs under 26 shots per game, with Niagara and RIT joining them as the four teams currently under 30.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, Bentley is allowing a league-high 33.2 shots per game, followed by both Sacred Heart (32.2) and Holy Cross (32.1). The middle pack sees Army West Point, Canisius, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris all between 30 and 31 shots per game allowed.<\/p>\n

Obviously the bigger stat to focus on is a team\u2019s goals against average, but Murphy\u2019s Law has a point to make: you can\u2019t score if you don\u2019t shoot.<\/p>\n

Here are the teams, stacked up through this week:<\/p>\n

AIC: 25.1
\nAir Force: 25.9
\nRIT: 27.1
\nNiagara: 27.5
\nMercyhurst\/Robert Morris: 30.3 (tied)
\nCanisius: 30.7
\nArmy: 30.9
\nHoly Cross: 32.1
\nSacred Heart: 32.2
\nBentley: 33.2<\/p>\n

Grinding it out<\/h4>\n

Northeastern finishes its Atlantic Hockey tour this weekend when it plays a home-and-home with Bentley.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll kick off a grueling stretch for the Falcons featuring eight games in three weeks. They\u2019ll return to conference play with Sacred Heart on Tuesday, then head to Army West Point for a pair of games next weekend. They\u2019ll then host the Pioneers again the following Tuesday before heading to Robert Morris in a return match of the league\u2019s longest bus trip.<\/p>\n

Sacred Heart has it arguably as tough. The Pioneers play Army West Point at the Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, then head to Bentley on Tuesday. Next weekend, SHU draws a home-and-home with Holy Cross, a deceptively long road trip of about three hours. After the second Bentley matchup, they head to Air Force for a pair of games in Colorado Springs.<\/p>\n

At least Sacred Heart has a weekend bye on Jan. 26-27?<\/p>\n

Players of the month<\/h4>\n

In lieu of the weekly awards, here\u2019s who earned recognition for their play last month as the first half wrapped up.<\/p>\n

Player of the Month – Robert Morris\u2019 Brady Ferguson:<\/b> Ferguson had five goals and eight assists in six games last month, finishing December with a plus-7 rating.<\/p>\n

Goalie of the Month – Bentley\u2019s Aidan Pelino:<\/b> Bentley enters Friday night\u2019s game as winners of six straight games dating back to last month. That\u2019s due in no small part to Pelino, who went 3-0 with three straight 30-save performances and a .958 save percentage.<\/p>\n

Rookie of the Month – Bentley\u2019s Luke Santerno:<\/b> The Falcons’ power forward had six points, including two goals, in his team\u2019s wins over AIC, Brown and Dartmouth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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