Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a successful weekend at the GMHL Showcase, the D2 hockey team returned home to take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats. The Panthers were 7-0 coming into the weekend all-time against NMU, and wanted to continue their winning ways on Friday.
 
The game started inauspiciously for the Panthers, as the Wildcats scored just 12 seconds into the game, but the Panthers carried the play for the rest of the game. The Panthers pounded the Wildcats net for 51 shots, and five players had multi-point nights. Six unanswered goals in the second half of the game helped the Panthers pick up their fourth win of the season.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 6 – Northern Michigan 2
Shots: DU 51 – NMU 14
Power Play: DU (1/4) | NMU (0/6)
Records: DU (4-2) | NMU (1-6)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Brody White, Connor Seymour, Kyle Mazur, Jeff Rahilly and captain Trevor Murray each had a goal and assist for the Panthers. Robert Pegrum picked up his second win in a row in goal.
 
A QUICK SHOT
 
Davenport was ready to take advantage of home ice, but it was the visitors who quickly jumped out in front as Bode Buseth scored 12 seconds into the game with shot over the blocking arm of Pegrum, and Northern Michigan stunned the fans at Patterson with the early 1-0 lead.
 
AIR RAID
 
The Panther did not take too kindly to the Wildcats early tally, and began to take over the game. Shot after shot, DU's attack ramped up for the remainder of the period. NMU's Jake Vandenberg was stellar in goal, stopping all of DU's 21 shots in the first 20 minutes, sending the Wildcats to the break with the lead.
 
ROOF JOB
 
Despite DU's offensive attack leading into the second period, the Wildcats were able to score another goal just minutes into the frame. Jake Gatenby walked right into the slot and fired a shot top-shelf, knocking the water bottle off of Pegrum's cage, and just like that the Wildcats were up two.
 
FINALLY BREAKING THROUGH
 
Despite Vandenberg frustrating Davenport shooters, the Panther continued to press. When it looked maybe they were not going to be able to score, they converted on the power play. Seymour tipped in a Rahilly shot to put the Panthers on the board with just over four minutes to play in the period.
 
Just 15 seconds later, Rahilly would fire home his third of the season to bring the game even at two.
 
The Panthers were not about to let up. With less than a minute left in the period, Seymour rushed the puck into the Wildcats' zone. He then dropped the puck off to Evan Carroll, who gave it to Murray. Murray gave it back to Carroll, and at the last second Carroll gave it right back to Murray who tapped in his second of the season.
 
In just over a four-minute span, the Panthers went from trailing by two, to taking a 3-2 lead into the third period.
 
WRAPPING IT UP
 
The best way to protect a lead is to increase the lead, at least that is what the Panthers thought in the final frame. A little over five minutes into the period, Spencer Sandberg scored to make it a two-goal game. Just before the halfway mark of the period, Mazur one-timed an Adam Hulsey pass by Vandenberg to make it a 5-2 game. White then scored a goal of his own on a nice rush down the wing in the final minute, and Davenport would take the victory by a final score of 6-2.
   
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers will wrap up their weekend set with the Wildcats on Saturday night at Patterson, with a scheduled 5:30 p.m. puck drop.