Box Score Site: Rochester, Mich. (Onyx Ice Arena)
Score: Davenport 5, Oakland 4
Records: DU (4-3-0-1), OU (6-8-0-0)
Next DU event: Saturday, Nov. 1 – at Oakland – 7:20 p.m.
 
Rochester, Mich. – The Davenport D1 hockey team started the Good Luck DUck series against Oakland on Friday night at the Onyx Ice Arena. Chris Eckler led the way with two goals and Kody Polin chipped in with a goal and an assist. Davenport held off a late Oakland run to win the game 5-4 and to move to 4-3-0-1 on the year. The Panthers and Grizzlies will close out their first weekend series for the Good Luck DUck on Saturday at 7:20 p.m. in Rochester, Mich.
 
Davenport started the game on roll as they held offensive pressure in the Oakland zone for a good portion of the first period. After both teams picked up the physicality, Oakland was able to put the first goal of the game on the board on a 4-on-3-man advantage. The Panthers tried to tie the game before the first intermission, but the Oakland defense and net minder were able to keep Davenport at ease and take a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
 
The game started to open in the second period, as Davenport was able to get on the board early in the period on a power play goal from Stephen Flood. However, Oakland came right back to retake the lead in the game. As both team continued to trade goals, Aaron Beally was able to beat the goaltender high blocker side to tie the game at two.
 
Moments after Beally tied the game, Oakland converted on scoring chance on a rush to take their third lead of the game. Davenport converted on just after their power play expired, after Kody Polin fed the puck to Chris Eckler in the slot, who knocked in home to tie the game at three heading into the third period.
 
The Panthers got off to a good start in the third period after Chris Eckler scored his second goal of the game to give Davenport their first lead of the game at 4-3. The special teams success for Davenport continued as Polin scored shorthanded to increase the Panther lead to two goals. The Grizzlies started to make a comeback late in the period, after scoring a goal with 5:09 left in the period. Matt Kaludis stopped a penalty shot to keep DU ahead by one, and the Panther penalty kill stood strong as they played a man short for the final 3:43 in the game.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney talked about his team's performance tonight, "I was very happy with our play tonight.  I have liked how we played for the past few weeks but we were coming up a little short.  Tonight we were good on the power play, penalty kill and 5-on-5.  We were very good on limiting the number of turnovers and we used our speed very effectively.  This is the kind of game we needed.  We need to go on a little bit of a run, and I think we are capable of doing so.  Oakland is good though and they are our number one rival so it will not come easy, but I really like the direction this team is heading.
 
The Panthers will return to Rochester, Mich. Saturday night to close out the opening weekend of the Good Luck DUck series at 7:20 p.m.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Davenport outshot Oakland 52-23 in the game and Matt Kaludis picked up the win to move to 3-3 on the season. Chris Eckler scored two goals in the game, which is his first multi-goal of the season, and Kody Polin picked up two points for his first multi-point game of the season.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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