Writing from beautiful downtown Bridgeport, Ct., which is actually not nearly as awful as advertised. Did a little walking around before arriving at Harboryard Arena, and did not see any muggers or burning buildings. Did see about two dozen police officers.

As for hockey, Air Force has a strong chance tonight, even if Yale is playing less than 20 miles from its neo-Gothic campus.

Here’s the thing to remember if you’re looking for reasons to believe in the Falcons:

Air Force barely lost, falling by one goal to Minnesota and  Miami, in NCAA appearances in 2007 and 2008, and then delivered an upset for the ages in 2009 against Michigan.

Frank Serratore is a superb big-game coach. Yes, the Falcons will be battling against what essentially will be a Yale home crowd, and, yes, Air Force is the 16th-seed in a 16-team tournament.

But the Falcons under Serratore’s direction play their best when it matters the most.