{"id":69033,"date":"2016-02-17T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=69033"},"modified":"2020-08-24T17:41:03","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T22:41:03","slug":"army-west-point-among-the-atlantic-hockey-teams-making-noise-from-the-bottom-of-the-standings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2016\/02\/17\/army-west-point-among-the-atlantic-hockey-teams-making-noise-from-the-bottom-of-the-standings\/","title":{"rendered":"Army West Point among the Atlantic Hockey teams making noise from the bottom of the standings"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Army West Point’s Parker Gahagen has allowed just 12 goals over his last eight starts (photo: Shelley M. Szwast).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With two weekends left in the Atlantic Hockey regular season and anticipation building for the postseason, teams expected to be playoff underdogs are sending a message: Don’t take us lightly.<\/p>\n

Three squads at or near the bottom of the standings — Niagara, American International and Army West Point — were a combined 2-2-2 last week against higher-ranked competition.<\/p>\n

AIC earned a road split at third-place Rochester Institute of Technology, while Niagara tied fifth-place Mercyhurst twice and Army West Point split with league leader Robert Morris.<\/p>\n

The Black Knights have been one of the hottest teams in the conference in recent weeks, unbeaten in seven games before a 3-0 loss at Robert Morris on Saturday.<\/p>\n

It’s not a coincidence that the three goals allowed by the Black Knights in that game (one was an empty-netter) was the first time in nine contests that they surrendered more than two.<\/p>\n

“We’ve been playing pretty well since Christmas,” said Army West Point coach Brian Riley, in his 12th season.<\/p>\n

“I liked how we played against Merrimack (3-2 win), UMass (2-1 loss) and then Sacred Heart, which was really our only bad game (4-1 loss). Our defense has been outstanding and keeps us in every game, but we need to get better at putting the puck in the net.”<\/p>\n

The Black Knights have indeed been better offensively as of late, averaging about a half a goal a game more than in the first semester. Riley said that’s a result of his young team gaining confidence.<\/p>\n

“It’s an improvement that comes with experience,” he said. “There’s more confidence that when every line goes over the boards, there’s a chance they’re going to score.”<\/p>\n

USCHO Live!:<\/b> Hear Army West Point coach Brian Riley on the Feb. 16 edition<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Five of the six leading scorers for Army West Point are freshmen or sophomores, led by pair of second-year players, Conor Andrle (24 points) and Brendan McGuire (eight goals).<\/p>\n

“Conor Andrle has been good for us all year,” said Riley. “And guys like [junior] C.J. Reuchlein and [sophomore] Nick DeCenzo have been getting more [scoring] opportunities.”<\/p>\n

But the MVP for the Black Knights so far has been goaltender Parker Gahagen (2.29 GAA and .930 save percentage). He’s allowed just 12 goals in his last eight starts.<\/p>\n

“Parker’s been really good for us, especially in the second half,” said Riley. “He’s such a calming influence for us. He makes the saves you expect him to make, and he makes some more. He’s been a rock.”<\/p>\n

Army West Point is in eighth place, two points ahead of Sacred Heart for the final home-ice slot in the first round of the playoffs. The Black Knights host Mercyhurst this weekend and then finish up with a home-and-home series against Bentley.<\/p>\n

Riley’s team can finish anywhere from fourth to 10th. Battling first-place Robert Morris to a tightly contested split last weekend has the Black Knights feeling good about themselves heading into the home stretch.<\/p>\n

“I told the guys before the series that this is right where we want to be, going up against the first-place team and seeing how we measured up,” said Riley.<\/p>\n

“And I told them after that I was pretty proud of them.”<\/p>\n

It’s that time again<\/h4>\n
\"\"
Second-place Air Force is three points behind Robert Morris and one point ahead of RIT in the Atlantic Hockey standings (photo: Michelle Bishop).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With most teams down to their final four games of the regular season (Bentley and AIC have just three left), it’s time to dig out the tiebreakers.<\/p>\n

If the end to this season is anything like the past several, they’re going to be consulted often as we go down to the wire.<\/p>\n

They are:<\/p>\n

\u2022 1. Winning percentage head-to-head<\/p>\n

\u2022 2. Conference Wins<\/p>\n

\u2022 3. Goal differential in head-to-head contests<\/p>\n

\u2022 4. Goals allowed in head-to-head contests<\/p>\n

\u2022 5. Winning percentage head-to-head against teams seeded 1 through 11, starting with the No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

\u2022 6. Goal differential in games against teams seeded 1 through 11, starting with the No. 1 seed.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that first through fifth place comes with a first-round bye, and a top-four finish guarantees home ice in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

The sixth-, seventh- and eighth-place teams will host first-round series with the bottom three finishers.<\/p>\n

Based on the current standings and the appropriate tiebreakers, we have the following possible scenarios:<\/p>\n

Robert Morris:<\/b> The Colonials are the only team at this point that has clinched a first-round bye. RMU can finish anywhere from first to fifth.<\/p>\n

Air Force:<\/b> Can finish anywhere from first to sixth.<\/p>\n

RIT:<\/b> Also will finish between first and sixth place.<\/p>\n

Holy Cross:<\/b> The Crusaders are still in the running for the regular season title, and can finish anywhere from first to seventh.<\/p>\n

Mercyhurst:<\/b> The Lakers have the widest potential spread at this point, first through ninth.<\/p>\n

Canisius:<\/b> The Golden Griffins were the only team to sweep last weekend. They will finish between second and ninth.<\/p>\n

Bentley:<\/b> The Falcons were swept by Canisius last weekend, and only have an outside shot at a first-round bye. They can end as high as fifth and as low as 10th.<\/p>\n

Army West Point:<\/b> The Black Knights trail Bentley by a point with a game in hand, and are looking at finishing anywhere from fourth to 10th.<\/p>\n

Sacred Heart:<\/b> The Pioneers were idle last week. With four games left, they can finish between fifth and 11th.<\/p>\n

Niagara:<\/b> The Purple Eagles are tied for 10th place with AIC, but have a game in hand. They still have a shot at home ice in the first round, potentially ending up between seventh and 11th.<\/p>\n

American International:<\/b> The Yellow Jackets will be on the road in the first round. They will finish as high as ninth and as low as 11th.<\/p>\n

Things will be narrowed down considerably by this time next week.<\/p>\n

Century club<\/h4>\n

It’s also the time of the season where some players are near or have reached the 100-career-point mark.<\/p>\n

Two players are knocking on the door, and another pair share the league’s career scoring lead for active players. In all, five players have amassed 100 points or more:<\/p>\n

Andrew Gladiuk, Bentley:<\/b> The senior came into the season with 108 points. He’s added 35 more for a total of 143.<\/p>\n

Zac Lynch, Robert Morris:<\/b> Lynch started his senior season with 101 points; he has 143 total in 143 games.<\/p>\n

Ralph Cuddemi, Canisius:<\/b> Cuddemi has piled up 114 points to date, including 33 this season.<\/p>\n

Josh Mitchell, RIT:<\/b> The senior picked up his 100th career point on Jan 16, and has 113 so far.<\/p>\n

Greg Gibson, Robert Morris:<\/b> Gibson hit the century mark on Jan. 23. He’s got 106 to date.<\/p>\n

Shane Conacher, Canisius:<\/b> Just a junior, Conacher is at 99 points.<\/p>\n

Max French, Bentley:<\/b> Also only a junior, French has 97 career points, including 40 this season.<\/p>\n

Weekly awards<\/h4>\n

All four awards have a Western New York connection this week.<\/p>\n

Player of the week — Dylan McLaughlin, Canisius:<\/b> The rookie put up a whopping six points, all assists, in a sweep at Bentley. He had four on Saturday, tying a school record.<\/p>\n

Goalie of the week — Parker Gahagen, Army West Point:<\/b> The Buffalo, N.Y., native stopped 82 of 85 shots in a split at Robert Morris.<\/p>\n

Rookie of the week — Felix Chamberland, Canisius:<\/b> Chamberland had a pair of goals and an assist, his most prolific weekend to date.<\/p>\n

Defensive player of the week — Jimmy Mazza, Canisius:<\/b> Another Canisius rookie, Mazza had a goal and two assists last weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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