ERIE, Pa. – Bentley put forward one of its best performances of the season, but couldn't put one past Mercyhurst goalie Max Strang as the Falcons and Lakers played to a scoreless tie Friday night in Atlantic Hockey action at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Bentley outshot the Lakers 48-28 for the game, 8-0 in overtime and had several excellent scoring chances throughout but Strang came up big. Branden Komm (Williamsville, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) had 28 saves for the Falcons himself.

Bentley really started to assert itself in the second period when they outshot Mercyhurst 15-6 and had the puck in the offensive zone most of the period.

One of Bentley's best chances came with about eight minutes left in the third period after a Mercyhurst turnover in its own zone. Ryan Kayfes (Maple Grove, Minn./Fairbanks Ice Dogs) received a pass out in front of the net and flipped a shot on goal top shelf but Strang came up with a glove save.

Mercyhurst had a power play opportunity with 5:15 left after Bentley took a too many men on the ice penalty but killed it off.

The Falcons again had several scoring chances in OT and were on the power play with 2:14 left but Strang kept the puck out. He saved a shot through traffic by Matt Maher (Avon, Conn./Westside Warriors) from the right face-off circle, and Brett Gensler (St. Charles, Mo./Youngstown Phantoms) had a shot hit the post.

Both teams go to 4-1-1 in Atlantic Hockey to create a three-way tie for first place with Air Force with nine points. The Falcons go to 4-6-2 overall and the Lakers go to 5-5-1. Game two of the series is Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.