Feb. 6, 2010

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Two goals from Matt Morang and two points each from Adam Thomas and Brit Ouellette lifted the Panthers to a convincing 4-1 win over Oakland at home on Friday night. DU will travel to Rochester on Saturday for the deciding game in the "Good Luck Duck" series.

After not scoring the night before in a 3-0 loss to the Grizzlies, the Panthers rebounded in a big way on Friday night as they scored the final four goals of the game to make Saturday's game the deciding one of who gets the lucky duck for the next year.

After Oakland scored just 4:04 into the first period, DU got even halfway through on a nice rebound goal from Jeff Slusser (Kentwood, Mich.). Adam Thomas (Kentwood, Mich.) was credited with the assist and DU took the momentum into the first intermission after tying the score.

Defense came up big for both teams early in the second but DU struck just over 10 minutes in when Adam Thomas got a nice pass from Brit Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) to put the Panthers up 2-1.

Less than 15 seconds later, the Grizzlies were whistled for three straight penalties giving the host a five on three chance. Although Davenport was unable to extend their lead, the Grizzlies could not stay out of the box and they gave DU a second two-man advantage.

But again Oakland killed it off, but as soon as their fourth man came out onto the ice, Matt Morang (Dearborn, Mich.) pounded home another Ouellette pass for the 3-1 lead heading into the third.

Morang then put the game away at the 12:27 mark of the third when he went coast to coast on a shorthanded opportunity to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead.

Scott Knight (Grand Rapids, Mich.) got the win in net to improve to 17-9 on the year and Ben Dykstra (Kentwood, Mich.) was big throughout the night as the second year player provided 11 hits in the game.

DU and OU will take to the ice at the Onyx on Saturday night with the winner taking home the Good Luck Duck that has been in Grand Rapids for the past two seasons.