Box Score Photo Gallery | Video Highlights

Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: No. 12 Davenport 2, No. 17 Oakland 3 (SO)  
Records: DU (20-9-0-3), OU (19-13-0-0)
Next DU event: Thursday, Feb. 6 – at Adrian – 7 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After losing the DUck the night before the Panthers looked avoid the season sweep against No. 17 Oakland, and the team started strong with the first goal of the game, but Oakland scored two quick goals in the second period to take the 2-1 lead. In the final five minutes of the game DU tied up the game to send it into overtime. Neither team could score in overtime and DU lost the shootout 2-1 and dropped the game 3-2. The Panthers will finish up conference play next week against Adrian starting on Thursday in Adrian, Mich. at 7 p.m.
 
Davenport started the game on the right foot playing their systems and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after Phil Wendecker put one home for the Panthers off of passes from Andrew Frank and Mason Bohlinger. DU continued to hold the puck in the Oakland, but could not add to their lead as they took a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
 
In the second period DU played their physical style, but that lead to some penalties for Davenport and they were able to kill a few off, before Oakland was able to tie the game with 13 minutes left in the second period. The Grizzlies used that momentum to tally another goal just a few minutes later to take a one-goal lead.
 
In the closing minutes of the period the Panthers had a power play chance, but could not get another goal past Oakland and had a little power play time carry over into the third period.
 
The Panthers could not score on the tail end of their power play to start the third period and the period seen a lot of back and forth play as neither team could the puck in their offensive zone. DU finally had some good offensive chances with a power play with nine minutes left in regulation, but could not score on the man advantage.
 
Just after the Grizzly penalty expired Oakland found themselves on another penalty and this time DU was able to tie the game as Robert Kleiman found the back of the net. The game went into another overtime game, but the neither could score and the game went into a shootout. Davenport lost the shootout 2-1 and loss the game 3-2.
 
After the head coach Phil Sweeney was looking ahead to next weeks game, "Hopefully a short memory, we have to forget this weekend. We have to play desperate our last four games, because our backs are against the wall. If we want to qualify for nationals we have to get a couple wins down the stretch."
 
The Panthers will close out the GLCHL regular season schedule next week with a home-and-home series against Adrian starting on Thursday in Adrian, Mich. at 7 p.m.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
The Panthers are now 0-3 in shootouts this season, and drop to 20-9-0-3 on the year. Robert Kleiman and Phil Wendecker were the goal scores for DU and Wendecker also picked an assist. Andrew Frank and Cody Walsh also picked assists for Davenport.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
DU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
DI Ice Hockey: Twitter | Facebook