WEST POINT, N.Y. – For the third time in the last two years, Army and Bentley skated to a tie as the two schools played to a 2-2 deadlock on Saturday afternoon at Tate Rink.
The Black Knights (0-3-1, 0-2-1 AHA) jumped out to 2-0 lead in the second period with goals from Clint Carlisle and Tipper Higgins. For Higgins, it was his first collegiate goal in his first game with Army. Carlisle finished with two points with a goal and an assist to lead the team. Parker Gahagen made 31 stops in his second game of the season, including 11 each in the first two periods.
The Falcons (2-2-1, 0-2-1 AHA) like Army is still in search of its first league win. Max French single-handily kept Bentley out of the lost column with two goals in the third frame. He tied the game on a nice individual effort in which he beat two Army defensemen after a turnover by the Black Knights. Jason Argue also made 31 saves with five in the overtime period.
The first period was scoreless with both teams getting a wack at the power play. Army had a five-minute major power play after the Falcons committed a boarding penalty. The Black Knights couldn’t capitalize on the chance and Bentley led in shots at 11-10 after the first period.
Army took the first lead of the game with 14:20 left in the second period. The Black Knights killed off a Bentley power play and the Falcons turned the puck over at the blueline and Army countered with a 3-on-2. Joe Kozlak skated into the zone and dropped the puck back to Carlisle, who went top shelf to beat Argue for the 1-0 advantage.
The lead increased to 2-0 with a tough goal in front for Higgins for his first collegiate goal. He drove to the net, causing a scrum in front. The initial shot was stopped by Argue, but the puck deflected off Higgins leg and into the net for the 2-0 advantage. Carlisle and C.J. Reuschlein were given credit for the assists.
Bentley fired back early in the third period with a power play goal from French. Andrew Gladiuk and Matt Blomquist played pass along the side boards and Gladiuk found French in the slot for a one-timer that Gahagen couldn’t get leather on and it was a one-goal game at 2-1 with 16:56 remaining in the third period.
French struck again with 12:16 on the clock. He tied the game by picking up a loose puck at the Army blueline and made a move around a couple defenders and beat Gahagen to tie the game at 2-2.
In the overtime period, Army had the best chance as Kozlak came open at the side of the net and chipped a backhand that glanced off the shoulder of Argue to keep it a tie game. The contest ended in a tie with both teams firing 33 shots on net. Bentley went 1-for-5 on the man advantage, while Army didn’t score on only one opportunity.
The two teams have an early date tomorrow with an 11:05 a.m. faceoff at the Barclays Center as part of the Brooklyn Hockey event featuring UConn and Notre Dame as well.
Ice Shavings: Army skated out in its new home whites for the first time this season … the jersey features a stenciled Army on the front and the Athena shield logo on the shoulders … Army is unbeaten against Bentley in its last four games … the last three games have ended in ties … this was the 56th meeting all-time between Army and Bentley with the first contest coming in 1982 … second year in a row that Army has played on Halloween after hosting Brown on Oct. 31 last season … Tipper Higgins made his career debut on the second line with C.J. Reuschlein and Clint Carlisle … Trevor Fidler was bumped up to the first line with Tyler Pham and Conor Andrle … first time this season Pham and Andrle have been on the same line since finishing first and second in points in 2014-15 … Garret Peterson saw his first action of the year … Gahagen made his second start of the year and first of league play … Black Knights had six rookies in the lineup today.
