Game Scoring
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Bobby Collar and Sean McWhorter both netted two goals apiece and goaltender Joe D'Elia turned away all 21 Liberty shots faced in a lopsided 8-0 victory for Davenport. The two teams will meet again on Saturday night at 7:30pm at Patterson.
The Panthers continued their torrid offensive output by netting 8 goals on 36 shots on goal. Dating back to December, the #2 ranked Panthers have outscored their opponents 68-17 and the win was the Panthers' seventh in their last eight games, going 7-1 during that stretch.
McWhorter got the Panthers on the board midway through the first period as the forward unleashed a wrister from the right faceoff circle under the crossbar off a beautiful feed from Juliano.
Collar would also find the net later in the period as the all-time scorer at DU ripped a snapshot over the goalie's blocker to add to his growing point total.
Kyle McDowell (Toronto, Ontario) made a great breakout pass to Ben Dykstra (Kentwood, Mich.). "(Dykstra) gave me a nice feed and I was able to use the defender as a screen," noted Collar. "It was a great goal that got my whole line involved."
Joe D'Elia (Toronto, Ontario), who improved his season record to 11-4, played his best game of the year, turning away the seldom odd-man rushes that the Panther defense rarely allowed.
The Davenport defense jumped up into the play early and often as defenders Kevin Brojek (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and newcomer Bo Jacobs (Twin Lakes, Mich.) netted goals in the Panther victory.
Jacobs, a recent addition from the NAHL program Traverse City North Stars, sent a blazing slapshot from the point that caught the LU goaltender awkwardly, jumping over his shoulder and into the net.
"Jeff Slusser (Kentwood, Mich.) gave me a great setup feed, and I just let a shot go. D'Elia played a tremendous game and it was a great team effort," Jacobs said. "I couldn't be happier here at DU and former (North Star) teammates like Phil Wendecker have really helped me make the easy transition."
Also scoring for the Panthers was freshman Sean McKenzie (Howell, Mich.), as he added the eighth goal on the evening.
Davenport and Liberty will meet for the fourth time this season on Saturday with the Panthers looking for the season sweep. Game time is set for 7:30pm and will be broadcast live on the DAN.
