Jan. 30, 2010
Box Score
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport rebounded in a big way on Saturday night after a rare loss to Grand Valley the night before as they defeated the Lakers 5-0. Davenport is now 23-13 on the year and 8-2 in the GMHL with a three-game set with Oakland set for next weekend.
After dropping their first game in their last 10 meetings, the Panthers started off strong in the first period by collecting two goals while giving up none as Scott Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich.) stopped all of the Lakers shots.
DU got a big start when they killed off two straight penalties in the opening five minutes and then Bobby Collar (Brighton, Mich.) scored on a pass from Marc Thompson (Traverse City, Mich.) at 15:32 to put DU up 1-0.
After another penalty kill, Phillip Tesoriero (Boulder, Colo.) produced a big hit that created a break for the Panthers and after a shot on net from Adam Thomas (Kentwood, Mich.) and a touch from Jeremy Barber (Caledonia, Mich.), DU's Brit Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) put the puck in the back of the net with only 55 seconds remaining.
The big hits continued to come for the Panthers in the second period as after a Laker charged the DU net-minder, Jared Mailloux (Amherstburg, Ontario) leveled the GVSU player and got sent into the box along with teammate Jeremy Barber.
Penalties continued to be an issue for DU, but the Panthers penalty kill rose to the occasion each time not allowing a Laker goal throughout the second period and then with just over 10 minutes to play, Brit Ouellette recorded his second of the night to put DU up 3-0
Then again in the final minute of the period, after another penalty kill for the Panthers, DU found themselves on their own power play and Sean McWhorter (Lansing, Mich.) put Davenport up 4-0.
Opening the third, DU did not let up the intensity and hitting as Ben Dykstra (Kentwood, Mich.) got a rebound goal just 4:38 in to put the Panthers up 5-0. Jeff Slusser (Kentwood, Mich.) was credited with the assist.
Just minutes after the 5th Panther goal, things got even more chippy in the game as a GVSU player and Kevin Brojek (Sterling Heights, Mich.) got tangled up at mid-ice. After what looked to be a shot to the head by the Laker player with his stick, Matt Morang came to the defense and after the ensuing fight, both Brojek and Morang were ejected.
The final minutes went back and forth after the long delay as each team created very few good chances and the goaltenders were up to the task when faced with shots as the game ended with the final score of Davenport -5 , Grand Valley -0.
Scott Knight picked up the win in net as he posted his third shutout of the season and improves his record to 16-9.
The win improves Davenport's overall record to 23-13 and 8-2 in the GMHL. The win is the 10th in the last 11 meetings with the Lakers and DU won three of four in 2009-10 while outscoring the Lakers 16-7.
