GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After an impressive weekend on the road against Illinois, the D1 Hockey team looked to build on its five-game win streak. Rochester College, after a slow start early in the season, has started to pick up their play as of late. The Warriors looked to hold their own against the Panthers, who have had the Warriors' number since their first meeting back in 2014.
 
Thursday, December 6
Final Score: Davenport 7 – Rochester 1
Records: #6 DU (17-2-1), RC (6-12)
Location: Fraser Hockeyland (Fraser, Mich.)
 
GETTING OUT IN FRONT
The best thing a team can do on the road is get the first goal, and the Panthers did just that Thursday night. DU's top line went to work, as Austin Thompson finished off a play set up by Keegan Miller and Captain Alex Hulford. Thompson kept DU's offense flowing later on in the period, with an unassisted tally with just over two minutes to go in the period.
 
WIDE RANGE SCORING
Leading only by two after 20 minutes, Davenport really wanted to give themselves a little breathing room against Rochester. Similar to the first period, the Panthers found the back of the net less than three minutes into the period. Nathan Nickelson slipped home his third goal of the season to extend the DU lead to three. Just a few minutes later, it was déjà vu for Rochester netminder Robert Meadows. Thompson scored his third goal of the game, once again from Hulford and Miller. The Panthers continued to assault the Warrior net, as Luke Cowan put home DU's fifth goal of the contest. Davenport was not done yet in the second. Chris Corgan put home his fourth goal of the season, and the Panthers took a 6-0 lead into the final 20 minutes.
 
Hulford would score a goal of his own about halfway through the third, with Mike Gessler tacking on an assist. Tyler Shoudy would score for Rochester to break the shutout, but it was too little too late. Davenport would defeat the Warriors for their sixth straight win, 7-1.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
On top of Thompson's hat-trick, Hulford had a three-point game, with a goal and two assists. Gessler and Miller each had two assists. Tanner Swift picked up his sixth win of the season with a 22 save outing.
 
Saturday, December 8
Final Score: Davenport 2 – Rochester 3
Records: #6 DU (17-3-1), RC (7-12)
Location: Kentwood Ice Arena (Kentwood, Mich.)
 
FIRING AT WILL
The Panthers looked to continue to their offensive attack in the second game of the home-and-home. They came out flying in the Rochester zone, but could not find the back of the net as the Warriors' defense made it difficult for the Panthers. Warriors' netminder Trevor Osko made a fantastic save to keep the game scoreless, making a stop while on his back side. Davenport would be able to break through as the top line would strike first, as Hulford would score his 23^rd goal of the season., and Davenport would take the one goal lead into the break.
 
THE WARRIORS' CRY
The second period saw quite the swing in momentum. With Davenport's offense stagnant, Rochester's attack began to take shape. After a DU turnover, Zach Bourcier made a move around goaltender Jon Strand, and put it in his team-leading 12^th goal of the season to tie the game at one. Just a few minutes later, on an innocent looking rush, Jared Selengowski ripped a shot passed the blocking glove of Strand, giving the Warriors their first lead of the game. Things were looking up for the Panthers as Bourcier took a five-minute major penalty for head contact. However, shortly into the power play, Joseph Tabbi brought the puck into the DU zone. He feathered a pass to Nick Mercier, who made no mistake with his third of the season, and the Warriors found themselves with a two-goal lead.
 
The cushion Rochester had built for them was found to be short-lived. Just 14 seconds after the goal, Cowan blasted home a one-timer passed Osko to make it a one goal game once again.
 
FRUSTRATING FINISH
Heading into the third, trailing Rochester by one, the margin looked attainable for the daunting Panther offense. Yet, the Warrior defense would not break. Consistently getting in the way of the Panthers' shots. Davenport ended the game with 34 shots, and the Rochester defense arguably blocked just as many. When the chances did get through to the net, Osko was there standing tall. Davenport pulled the goaltender late, but to no avail, and the Panthers fell to the unranked Warriors, 3-2.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
Davenport has arguably its toughest test of the season so far, as they welcome Michigan-Dearborn to Patterson for a pair of home games. Davenport is 19-8-1 all-time versus the Wolverines. UM-Dearborn is ranked second in the country, and is coming off their first defeat of the season, a shootout loss to #3 Adrian. Friday night's contest is set for 5:35 p.m., while Saturday's game is set for a 3:35 p.m. puck drop.
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman