Air Force’s hockey team hasn’t seen Sacred Heart – in person, anyway – since before Thanksgiving. That’s 22 games ago. So you can forgive Greg Flynn if his order is off.

His point is spot on.

In three of four games against the Pioneers, the Falcons won by a combined 19-3, including two routs in November at Cadet Ice Arena.

“A lot of people quickly forget that our very first game (actually second) went to overtime, which we just happened to squeak out,” Flynn, a senior defenseman, said about a 4-3 victory Oct. 11.

“I expect that’s the kind of game they’re going to be bringing into this rink,” Flynn said, referring to the best-of-three Atlantic Hockey Association first-round playoff series that starts tonight. “They’re going to be physical; they’re going to hit. It’s going to be playoff hockey.”

Air Force, the two-time defending AHA Tournament champion, is in a bit of a different position this season in that, for the first time, it is playing a team that already has won a playoff game. Sacred Heart beat Connecticut 4-2 last Saturday for the right to battle the top-seeded Falcons, the AHA regular-season co-champions.

“I haven’t thought about that,” Air Force coach Frank Serratore said. “To me, we’re hosting Sacred Heart in a best-of-three, same as it was last year.”

Last season, the Falcons eliminated Bentley in two games before shutting out RIT in the semifinals and beating Mercyhurst in double overtime to win the AHA title and an NCAA Tournament berth.

Air Force will try to become the first No. 1 seed in three years to win the tournament.

And the Falcons are well equipped to pull it off. They were, by far, the best defensive team in the league, led by goalie Andrew Volkening (2.08 goals-against average, .915 save percentage). They also have the nation’s leading goal scorer (Jacques Lamoureux, 28), top scoring defenseman (Flynn) and No. 2 short-handed goal scorer (Matt Fairchild).

And perhaps most importantly, Air Force is deep in playoff experience.

“Not a whole lot needs to be said,” Lamoureux said. “We’re a pretty mature group of guys. We know what’s at stake right now.”

But styles make the fight. And this weekend, it’s Sacred Heart’s power against Air Force’s speed. Speed has dominated. But …

“You can’t afford to have an off game, an off period or an off shift,” Serratore said. “The games are going to be tight. Sometimes it’s not the team that makes the most plays, it’s the team that makes the fewest mistakes.”

Captain questionable

The status of senior captain Mike Phillipich, who injured his ankle last month against RIT, will be a game-time decision.

“He’s walking well on it,” Serratore said, “but walking and skating are two different things.”

The absence of Phillipich, a two-year captain, would hurt the Falcons more from a leadership standpoint than a statistical one. He has seven goals and 14 points this season. But three of his goals were game-winners, tied for second on the team.

The new Van Briggle Pottery location at 1024 S. Tejon St. Thursday, March 12, 2009. Photo by (The Gazette/Jerilee Bennett)