Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The D3 hockey team was feeling confident heading into their return to Patterson on Saturday night. The team had won three in a row, and won convincingly the night before, defeating Northwood on the road.
 
However, a four-goal first period by the Timberwolves left the Panthers trailing the entirety of the game. Even though the Panthers were able to make a valiant effort to come back with goals from Tyler Heyboer and Dillon Bond, it would prove to not be enough, as Davenport would fall for the first time in almost a month.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 5 | Northwood 7
Shots: DU 32 | NU 35
Power Play: DU (1/5) | NU (1/7)
Records: DU (3-3, 3-1) | NU (1-3, 1-3)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Heyboer and Bond each scored two goals for the Panthers. Alexander Brown led the team with a goal and two assists, along with Cole Ott tallying a pair of assists. Barrett Rosser came in relief for Austen Strauss and looked solid in his second collegiate appearance, stopping 24 of 27 shots he faced.
 
WOLFPACK ATTACK
 
The game started with the Timberwolves all over the Panthers in the first period. They ended up outshooting DU 15-5 in the first 20 minutes. Their pressure eventually to a goal from Aaron Owen just before the seven-minute mark of the period.
 
Davenport would earn a power play around the halfway mark of the period. George Hangas had the puck on the blueline, but was stripped by Matt Hensley. Hensley made his way into the Davenport zone, all alone, and beat Strauss, five-hole, to put the Timberwolves by two.
 
A little over 90 seconds later, Max Iacopelli scored his first goal with the Timberwolves to extend the lead to three. With less than five minutes to play in the frame, Hensley picked the top corner of Strauss to give the T-Wolves a 4-0 lead.
 
That would be the end of the night for Strauss, as he was yanked after giving up the four goals on eight shots.
 
GETTING BACK INTO THE GAME
 
Davenport needed a good second period if they wanted any chance to come back. They received a good start to the period, as Brown scored his eighth goal of the season to put the Panthers on the board.
 
The deficit was extended back to four after Ethan Stutzman had a great rush through the DU defense, and was able to bounce the puck off of Rosser's pad and in to put Northwood up 5-1 a little over two minutes into the second.
 
Yet, DU was not deterred. They continued to press in the offensive end. They had a couple of near-misses, and a couple of shots that rang off the posts. Eventually, Heyboer found a loose puck to bang in his fourth goal of the season to bring the Panthers back within three.
 
BOND…DILLON BOND
 
Less than four minutes to go in the period. Ott took a shot from the point that bounced off two Northwood players on its way towards the goal. Chaos ensued around the goal, and somehow Bond tapped the puck across the line for his first goal of the season.
 
With under a minute remaining, the Timberwolves looked to clear the puck out of their own zone. However, Chance Bradley was able to hold the line, and gave it to John Lizyness. Lizyness took a shot that was kicked out by the Timberwolves' goaltender Brenden Campbell. The rebound went right out to Bond who banged in his second of the game.
 
Three goals in the final eight minutes of the middle stanza had placed the Panthers within a goal heading into the final period of play.
 
O(wen)H NO!
 
The Panthers continued to press in the third period, but they could not find the equalizer thanks to some big saves from Campbell.
 
Then, with just over six minutes left in regulation, there was a scramble around the DU net, and it would be Owen poking the puck by Rosser and into the net to give the Timberwolves a little breathing room.
 
The Panthers would take a penalty moments later, and after failing on 13 consecutive power plays, Northwood finally cashed in as Owen completed the hat trick with a wrister to the blocker side of Rosser to put the Timberwolves up by three for the second time.
 
Heyboer would score a power play goal with one minute remaining, but it would not be enough as Northwood would hold on to split the weekend series with the 7-5 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
DU continues with their conference schedule with taking on longtime rival Calvin University. The Knights are 1-1 this season, coming off a win over Notre Dame on Friday night. The Panthers are 14-10-1 all-time versus the Knights. Calvin won the first meeting on opening night last season, followed by a 4-4 tie the following night.
 
The first game of the weekend will take place down the road at the Eagles Ice Center, with the game set for a 5:30 p.m. puck drop.