Written by Tyler Kuehl

HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – After having their way with Northern Michigan last weekend, the D2 hockey team met with their longtime rivals from Grand Valley State. The Panthers visited the Lakers on Friday night for the first of four meetings this season, and looked to build off last season where DU took all three meetings from GVSU.
 
Two goals in the first period moments apart put the Panthers out in front. The Lakers battled back to tie, but a late goal from Spencer Sandberg, and Davenport's outstanding penalty kill proved the be the difference in picking up the win over GVSU.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 3– Grand Valley State 2
Shots: DU 37 | GVSU 32
Power Play: DU (0/5) | GVSU (1/10)
Records: DU (6-2) | GVSU (3-4)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Jeff Rahilly's goal ties him with Connor Seymour for the team lead in goal scoring. Jean-Phillipe Montmarquette helped with two assists on the night. Drake Deering picked up his fourth win of the season with a 30-save performance.
 
EARLY CHANCE DENIED
 
The game started with both teams earning scoring chances, with Deering and Grand Valley's Cody Denison making big saves. Then, after an innocent-looking clear by the Lakers, Buddy Rose found himself on a breakaway. He made a move to his forehand, but Deering's right pad denied the chance, and the game remained scoreless for the majority of the first period.
 
BANG, BANG
 
With a few minutes left in the period, DU was finally able to strike. After a good pinch by Montmarquette, Trevor Murray moved the puck to Rahilly, who picked the top corner on Denison. With Rahilly's fifth goal of the season, the Panthers were out in front.
 
Just 15 seconds later, Kyle Mazur took a shot from the point, and all alone in front was Clint Loney. Loney deflected the shot over the shoulder of Denison and in to put the Panthers up by two heading into the first intermission.
 
BACK IN THE GAME
 
The second period started with the Lakers getting a couple of early chances, but still could not find the back of the net. Just before the eight-minute mark of the period, Anders Staky picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, walked across the DU zone, and fired a shot back across Deering, off the post and in. It was Staky's first goal as a Laker, and cut the Panther lead in half.
 
PENALTY KILL STANDING TALL
 
Grand Valley went on the power play five times in the second period. While they did give up scoring chances, Deering, along with DU's penalty killers, held the Lakers off the scoreboard for the remainder of the second period.
 
"Penalty kill has been awesome," Coach Chris Green said after the game. "the boys are working hard, and buying into the system."
 
TIE GAME
 
Davenport's penalty kill could not stay perfect in the third period. Just over five minutes into the final frame, Zach Kippe tapped home his fourth goal in two games to tie the game at two.
 
TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN
 
Following the GVSU goal, the Panthers began to buzz in the offensive zone. A little over halfway through the period, Sandberg found a rebound at the side of the goal and had a wide-open net, but pushed it wide of the cage. On the same shift, Sandberg was uncovered in front of the Laker goal, received a pass for what looked like a sure tap-in, but was robbed by Denison.
 
When Sandberg took to the ice for his next shift, he went right back to the front of the net. Montmarquette took a shot, and Loney bounced it over to Sandberg who made no mistake, putting the puck into the back of the net to give the Panthers their second lead of the game.
 
Grand Valley pushed late to tie the game, but DU held their own en route to their fifth win in a row, defeating the Lakers by a final score of 3-2.
   
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers are right back at it on Saturday, as they take on the Lakers in the second half of the home-and-home at Patterson. Puck drop is set for 3:20 p.m.