Box Score | Messina Interview
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Behind solid defense and goalie Phil Graveline, Davenport took a 2-1 lead in the “Good Luck DUck” series after a 2-1 win in Oakland. Mason Bohlinger and Ben Dykstra both scored unassisted goals for the Panthers. The series will continue Saturday night at Patterson Ice Center.
Oakland controlled the puck for the first several minutes of the game and got a penalty shot goal just over four minutes into the first period to take the early lead. Mason Bohlinger evened up the score for the Panthers a few minutes later scoring a backhand goal over the shoulder of the OU net minder near the midway point of the period. This was the first goal for Davenport on Oakland's home ice after being shut-out earlier this season.
Both teams struggled to get anything going in the early part of the second period. After a questionable tripping call on the Panthers put Oakland on the power play, Davenport did what they have done so well all year and scored a short-handed goal. For the goal, Ben Dykstra stole the puck in the Davenport end and took it the length of the ice before firing a wrist shot past the OU goalie to put the Panthers up 2-1.
With just under four minutes to play in the second period Davenport had a goal waived off. The goal would have given Davenport a two-goal lead.
Both teams had good chances to score in the third. Oakland came out firing and controlled the play for the first several minutes of the period. Near the middle of the period, the momentum shifted back to the Panthers who kept the puck in the OU end. The Panthers withstood a late attack by the Grizzlies to seal the win.
Phil Graveline picked up the win in net for the Panthers. Graveline stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced with the only goal Oakland scored coming on a penalty shot a few minutes into the game.
With the win, Davenport improves to 14-2 in conference play while Oakland drops to 14-3. After Saturday's game, Davenport will have a game against Adrian and two against Western Michigan while Oakland will close out the season with two against Adrian to decide the GLCHL regular season champion.
Post-Game Quotes – Assistant Coach Joe Messina
Thoughts on game – “It was a sixty minute battle, obviously the “Good Luck DUck” series brings out the best in both teams for each game. I feel like every guy brought their A game tonight and played for each other. Down the stretch it was a complete defensive battle in our zone and we clamped down and ended up getting the win.”
On the play of defense and the play of Phil Graveline – “Basically the first play of the game ends up in a penalty shot for Phil and it's definitely a tough break. But you take the rest of the game and he was basically perfect all the way down to the end.”
Post-Game Notes
Davenport takes a 2-1 lead in the season series with one game to go (in the event of a tie a tiebreaker game will be played after the GLCHL playoffs)…Davenport has scored 14 short-handed goals this season.
