Findlay scored three goals in the third period for a 5-2 win over Air Force in a College Hockey America game Friday, Feb. 6, at the Academy’s Cadet Ice Arena.
Findlay improved to 6-19-4 overall and 3-9-1 in the CHA. Air Force fell to 10-15-2 overall and 3-9-1 in the CHA. The Oilers and the Falcons are tied for fourth in the league with seven points.
An even first-period produced 11 shots and one goal for each team. Findlay’s Christian Olson scored at the 3:42 mark on a breakaway for a 1-0 Oiler lead. The Falcons answered in the final minute of the period as Spanky Leonard scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. His goal came from Tom Starkey at the 19:03 mark after winning a faceoff in the offensive zone.
The only goal of the second period came from Findlay’s David Vogt on a breakaway. Kris Wiebe took two shots that were stopped by Mike Polidor, but Vogt cleaned up the rebound at 9:04.
Midway through the third period, Wiebe broke the game open with a pair of goals that came 22 seconds apart. His first goal of the night came at 10:02. Justin Perry won a faceoff in the offensive zone and Wiebe scored on a one-timer from the hash marks. Perry and Wiebe connected again at 10:24 on a rush up-ice.
Air Force attempted to make the game interesting when Seth Pelletier scored on a five-on-three power play with 1:15 remaining. Steve Mead took a shot from the point that was saved, but Adam Larson collected the puck on the half boards. Larson’s centering pass was tipped in by Pelletier for his second marker of the season. The assist was the first of Larson’s career. Air Force pulled its goaltender with 1:05 remaining and Vogt scored an empty-netter with 24 seconds left.
With his goal in the first period, Leonard extended his point-scoring streak to six games which ties as the longest by any Falcon this season. He has scored a goal in four of his last five games, including one in each of the last three.
Findlay out-shot Air Force 32-28 in the game, including a 10-3 advantage in the second period. AFA was 1-for-8 on the power play while Findlay was 0-for-5. Polidor, who made his first start since Jan. 16, made 27 saves and allowed four goals. Findlay freshman Will Hooper made 26 saves.
The same two teams will conclude the CHA series Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in the Cadet Ice Arena.
