WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley is at home this weekend for a two-game set against the Mercyhurst Lakers as the Atlantic Hockey schedule is in full swing. Friday's game begins at 7:05 PM and Saturday is a 4:05 PM puck drop.

Last Time Out

Bentley split with Sacred Heart last weekend as each team won on the other's home-ice. That left the Falcons with a 7-9 AHA record and 21 conference points. In the league standings Bentley is in 7^th entering the weekend, but just two points out of the top-five. The top-five teams earn a bye to the quarterfinals of the AHA playoffs, while the teams in the 6^th-11^th spots will play a single elimination first round game on March 2.

OT Winner

Stephen Castagna scored in overtime on Saturday night to give the Falcons a 3-2 overtime victory at Sacred Heart. That was Bentley's second straight OT win. The first was at home against Union on Dec. 30 and came after they dropped their first two OT games of the season (vs. BU, Oct. 7; at Air Force, Dec. 1).

Series History

Bentley trails the all-time series against Mercyhurst at 24-39-8. These teams split a series in Erie last season. The Lakers won the first game 4-3 and Bentley took the second game 5-3.

This will be Mercyhurst's first visit to Bentley Arena since December, 2021.

The first ever games between the two programs took place during the 1998-99 season.

News and Notes

Goalie Nicholas Grabko was named to the Richter Award Watch List last Friday. The award is given to the top goalie in NCAA men's hockey at the end of the season.

Both Grabko and Connor Hasley are in the top-25 nationally in goals against average, with Hasley at 2.50 and Grabko at 2.52.

The Falcons rank 4^th nationally in fewest shots allowed per game at 24.2.

Saturday's 3-2 win at Sacred Heart was the 11^th game this season where Bentley held the opponent to two goals or fewer. They've allowed three goals or fewer in 17 of 24 games.