GRAND RAPIPS, Mich. – Davenport rebounded from a poor performance last night to defeat Oakland 3-2 on Saturday night. Davenport blew an early 2-0 lead but would score the only goal of the third period for the win. Davenport will be in action again tomorrow against Adrian at 12:00 PM.
After falling behind quickly last night, it was the Panthers who got on the board first tonight on a Matt Nowicki goal from near the blue line less than four minutes into the game.
With 51 second left in the first period, Kevin Noble knocked in a rebound off a Nowicki shot to increase the Panthers lead to 2-0. But just 23 seconds later, Oakland got on the board to cut the Davenport lead to 2-1 heading into the first permission.
Oakland's Alexander Hoffman got his second goal of the game and fourth of the two-game series eight minutes into the second period to tie the game. The game would remain tied at 2-2 heading into the third period.
Both teams came out more physical in the third but it was the Panthers who would capitalize when Jeff Slusser scored on a pass from Michael Bishop to give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.
Phil Graveline made some big saves in the game and kept Oakland off the board in the third period to help the Panthers tie up the “good luck duck” series at 1-1.
Davenport improves to 6-1 (18 points) in conference and pulls to within six points of Oakland, who is 8-2 in GLCHL play, for the conference lead. Davenport will be in action again on Sunday at 12:00 PM in another conference match-up when the Panthers take on Adrian College at Patterson Ice Center.
Post-Game Quotes – Head Coach Phil Sweeney
On playing with backs against wall in DUck series: "After our worst game of the year, the boys responded yet again...Its been that kind of year with trying to overcome things and the boys did it again. They have responded to adversity time after time."
On game winning goal by Jeff Slusser: "He deserves it. He has worked so hard for past three plus seasons and with everything going on in his mind...that is just how awesome he is. I am proud of him."
Post-Game Notes
Davenport is now 18-12-1 all-time against Oakland and 9-4-1 all-time against Oakland at home…Davenport improves to 8-9 overall and 6-1 in conferences…The next two games in the “good luck duck” series will take place on February 3rd and 4th.
