Friday, Jan. 26: Tickets | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes
Saturday, Jan. 27: Tickets | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes

Games 27-28
Niagara Purple Eagles (11-13-2, 10-8-2 AHC) vs. Air Force Falcons (11-11-3, 6-9-2 AHC)
Friday, January 26 – 7:05 PM / Saturday, January 27 – 7:05 PM
Dwyer Arena – Niagara University, N.Y.
Broadcast: AtlanticHockey.tv
TV: LCTV (Saturday only)
Radio: WLVL 1340 AM - Paul Hamilton
Internet: Niagara Sports Network

Last weekend the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team closed out a four-game road trip with two games at Holy Cross, dropping the first game of the weekend series 3-1 before an emphatic 6-0 win on Jan. 20. The big win to close the road stretch was capped by a pair of career firsts, as Stanislav Dzakhov registered his first career hat trick, included the first and last goals of a run of four Niagara goals in 5:42 in the first period, and Brian Wilson earned his first career shutout with 26 saves. With the split, Niagara held pace in the Atlantic Hockey standings, currently sitting in third and trailing first-place Canisius and Holy Cross by two points.

With eight games to go in the regular season, the Purple Eagles turn their attention to Air Force, the team's opponents for 7:05 p.m. matchups on Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27 at Dwyer Arena. Niagara defeated Air Force by scores of 6-3 and 5-2 on Dec. 1 and 2, 2017, and the Falcons have posted a 4-3-0 record since that weekend. 

Both of this weekend's games can be streamed live through AtlanticHockey.tv, and Saturday's game will be televised locally on LCTV. Paul Hamilton has the play-by-play call all weekend on WLVL 1340 AM.

What to Watch For
• Back home for the first time since Jan. 9, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team  plays five of its final eight regular-season games on home ice, starting this weekend against the Air Force Falcons.
• Niagara won its first two games against Air Force on the road on Dec. 1 and 2, scoring 11 goals on the weekend with wins of 6-3 and 5-2.
• Last weekend, Niagara held tight with Holy Cross before falling 3-1 in the first game of the series on Jan. 19. 
• On. Jan. 20, the Purple Eagles' offense exploded for four goals in six minutes in the first period, en route to a 6-0 victory. Stanislav Dzakhov scored his first career hat trick and Brian Wilson made 26 saves for his first career shutout.
• Niagara senior forward Derian Plouffe and sophomore defenseman Noah Delmas were announced on Jan. 16 as nominees for the 2018 Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top player in college hockey.
• Plouffe leads Niagara and is tied for third in the AHC with 28 points (14+14). He is tied for the conference lead in power-play points (12) and shorthanded goals (two) and is tied for second with four game-winning goals.
• Delmas is tied for third in the country in points by a defenseman with 23 points (2+21), and his 21 are tied for the most by any AHC player. He is also tied with Plouffe for the team and conference  lead in power-play points at 12.
• Freshman forward Justin Kendall is second on the Purple Eagles in scoring in the month of January, tallying one goal and four assists in seven games. He is tied for the Atlantic Hockey scoring lead among rookies this month.

Scouting the Falcons
• Air Force has gone 4-3-0 in seven games since last playing Niagara, a pair of wins for the Purple Eagles at Cadet Ice Arena. 
• Niagara currently has a 35-28-5 lead in the all-time series, playing more games against Air Force (68) than any other team in the NCAA in the program's 22-year history. The Purple Eagles are 15-14-4 all-time against the Falcons at Dwyer Arena.
• Derian Plouffe and Tanner Lomsnes each had two goals and two assists in the first two games at Air Force earlier this season, while Eric Cooley, Nick Farmer, and Niko Kovachis each scored three points.
• Air Force went 5-2-1 in eight non-conference games this season, sweeping two games with Arizona State at Cadet Ice Arena while also earning wins over Alaska, Bemidji State, and Colorado College.
• Goaltender Billy Christopoulos has been a leading force for the Falcons this season, starting all 25 of Air Force's games. He leads the AHC with 11 wins and ranks second with a 2.46 goals-against average.
• Junior Evan Giesler leads the Falcons in scoring with 16 points (6+10) in 25 games. Erik Baskin leads the team with 10 goals. Senior Tyler Ledford has been limited to 14 games this season, but he leads the Falcons in assists (11) and points per game (0.93).

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow Niagara hockey on Twitter and Instagram. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.