WEST POINT, N.Y. – The fourth line of Ian Mansfield, Shane Hearn and Josh Roberts, scored four of Army’s five goals in a 5-0 lopsided win over American International in game one of the best-of-three first-round series in the Atlantic Hockey Tournament.
Army (12-13-9) was led by Mansfield, who tallied three points on two goals and an assist. He entered the contest with two points in his previous 25 games and has five points in the last three games. Roberts and Hearn contributed two points each in the win with a goal and an assist apiece. Tyler Pham was only player not from the fourth line to score in the game as he added his seventh goal of the year.
Not to be outdone by the fourth line, Parker Gahagen recorded his third career shutout and second of the season with 31 saves, including 16 in the second period.
“Obviously it was a big win and in a series like this you got to come out and get the first one,” head coach Brian Riley said. “I thought we had a little bit a slow start. It took a little while to find our legs and Parker had to make some saves to keep us in it.”
American International (6-28-3) got 25 saves from goaltender Alex Murray in the loss and went 0-for-4 on the power play.
The Black Knights opened the scoring with Mansfield scoring his first career goal to give the home team a 1-0 advantage. The Yellow Jackets turned the puck over in their own zone and Mansfield made them pay. He collected the puck above the right circle and fired a wrist shot through traffic and into the upper left corner for the lead.
Mansfield scored his second of the night to give Army a 2-0 lead with 13:58 left in the second period. He charged into the offensive zone and fired a shot towards the net and it deflected off a stick and past Murray to give the Black Knights the two-goal lead.
The scoring continued from the fourth line with Roberts netting his third of the year with an assist to Hearn. Army received a stroke of luck on the play as Roberts flipped the puck on net with little velocity. It was misplayed by an American International defenseman and Murray wasn’t ready for it. The puck trickled into the back of the net and the Black Knights increased their lead to three goals heading to the final period.
The Black Knights grew their lead to 4-0 thanks to a great effort from Tyler Pham. He got the puck during a scrum in front of the net and after missing two backhanders, he stuck with the play and slide it home on the forehand to give Army a commanding lead. Conor Andrle was given an assist on the play as his shot was blocked before Pham got the puck.
Hearn closed out the scoring 33 seconds after Pham’s goal with his third of the season. He received a pass from Mansfield and connected on a one-timer from the point. Murray got a piece of the shot, but it got under his right arm and trickled across the goal line to make it 5-0.
“We just have to keep putting the puck on net and that is what worked for my line tonight,” Mansfield stated. “We put pucks on net and they went in. You are going to have nights like that in hockey. I think that was the key. Every line needs to play a simple game and we are going to win.”
The Yellow Jackets had a 31-30 shot advantage and held Army scoreless on six power plays.
The Black Knights have the 1-0 series lead as the teams start 0-0 on the scoreboard tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. at Tate Rink. Tickets remain available and can be purchased one hour prior to game time at the Holleder Center Ticket Office.
Game Notes: Tonight was Army’s first playoff game at home since 2011 and the Black Knights are hosting their first playoff series since 2008 … that same year was the last time Army had a shutout in a playoff series, which was against the Yellow Jackets … The Black Knights last scored five goals in a series that same year against AIC in a 5-2 win … Mansfield has scored five points in his last three games … he was the first rookie and third player this season to register a multi-goal game … the winning margin of five goals was the largest of the season for the Black Knights … Army is 6-2-3 in their last 11 games, dating back to a 4-2 win at Niagara on Jan. 29 … Hearn tallied his fifth career multi-point game with the last coming against AIC on Feb. 28, 2015 … Roberts recorded his first multi-point game of his career … With the shutout, Gahagen has dropped his GAA to 2.16 and his save percentage is now .933.
