Ice Hockey overcomes slow start to sink Bentley

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Despite a lackluster start, the American International College ice hockey team doubled up rival Bentley University, 4-2, in Atlantic Hockey Association action on Tuesday, November 21.

AIC is now 6-5-0 overall and 4-1-0-0-0-0 in the AHA.

The Yellow Jackets came out flat and the Falcons took full advantage, jumping on AIC for two quick goals. Nik Armstrong-Kingkade potted the game's first goal at 6:42 with a redirect on the doorstep, and after an AIC penalty, Samuel Duerr's wrister through a screen at 9:26 to put his team ahead 2-0 before the first media timeout.

AIC's compete level improved somewhat after the media timeout, and the comeback effort began in earnest late in the period. The Yellow Jackets worked the puck around the right side of the zone from the corner to the blue line from Alexander Malinowski to Jordan Biro to Brian Kramer, who went D-to-D to the left point for rookie Tomi Leppanen. The freshman defenseman moved toward the middle and wired a shot through traffic that eluded Nicholas Grabko and hit the twine at 14:49 for his first collegiate goal. 

The Yellow Jackets still needed a bounce and found it in a big way as a pass back to the point by the Falcons missed and John Lundy, who was lurking along the blueline, sprang forward, taking the bouncing puck off the boards and breaking in alone. He beat Grabko cleanly to tie the game with his fourth of the year - his first at 5-on-5 - just 44 seconds into the second.

Now even, AIC went to work and drew a penalty to get a power play. John Lundy charged in over the left side of the line and dropped a pass to Malinowski, who cut right and dished across to Julius Janhonen. The senior fired a one-time blast from the right dot that went home, giving AIC its first lead with his second of the season at 5:52.

The Yellow Jackets not only slammed the door on the Falcons from there, but they extended the lead early in the third. It was a rush play from the right side to the middle, with Timofei Khokhlachev winning a battle in front of the penalty box on AIC's right-wing side and dishing forward for Brett Rylance. Rylance in turn fired through the Bentley defense to Malinowski, who was behind the Falcons defenders, and able to cut to the netfront and put the puck through Grabko's legs for his second of the year at 1:37. 

Bentley's remaining effort went for naught thanks to the work of rookie Nils Wallstrom, who had 26 saves in the win; the Falcons even pulled Grabko late and put pressure on, but the closest either team came to scoring was when Dustin Manz hit the right post of the empty Bentley net with just over a minute remaining.

AIC will next break from conference play to face Long Island University in East Meadow, New York at the Northwell Health Ice Center on Friday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m.