Game Scoring | DAN Broadcast
HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - Davenport stepped down back to D2 play this weekend in the annual "Cross Town Clash" and came away with a very sluggish 3-2 win over Grand Valley State. Jeff Slusser scored the game winner midway through the third period for DU as they improve to 19-3 on the year.
After scoring a combined 35 goals last weekend in three wins over Eastern Michigan and #4 Oklahoma, the Panthers returned to the ice against rival Grand Valley State. The Lakers came out flying in the opening minutes of the first period and threatened numerous times but were unable to post a goal against DU netminder Phil Graveline (Marshall, Mich.).
The Panthers, ranked #2 in ACHA D1 in the latest Top-25 poll, then got on the board with a nice goal when Jonathon Juliano (Clinton Twp, Mich.) unleashed a slapshot from the top of the circle with 5:37 remaining in the opening period. Juliano got himself open and beat GVSU goaltender Grant Lyon between the legs for the 1-0 lead.
Davenport added to their lead when Bobby Collar (Brighton, Mich.) inched closer to the all-time points lead at DU with a fluky goal with 1:17 to play in the first. That would be how the opening period ended, with DU leading 2-0.
The Lakers continued to fly around in the second period and cut the lead in half on a goal with 6:14 to play and the score would stay like that into the second intermission.
Davenport came out in the third and continued to fire shots, but Lyon was up to the task keeping GVSU in the game with each save. Then with about 12:00 remaining, DU went on a 5 on 3 power play and looked to put the game away but the Lakers killed it off and right before the end of the ensuing 5 on 4, scored a shorthanded goal to tie the score at 2-2.
With the momentum clearly on the home team's side, Davenport put together a great shift and used crisp passing to get Jeff Slusser (Kentwood, Mich.) open and Brit Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) found the third year defender in the slot for a goal just 31 seconds later to put the Panthers up 3-2.
The win is the 10th in the last 11 meetings with GVSU and also lifts the all-time series record to 19-4-2 in favor of the Panthers.
As the period and game came to a close, the Panthers held tough on defense to preserve their 19th win of the year. The two teams will come back to the ice on Saturday at Patterson Ice Center. Face-off is set for 7:30 pm and you can listen live on the DAN.
