Written by Tyler Kuehl
CHICAGO, Ill. – After the D1 hockey team picked up a big win over #8 UNLV on Saturday, the Panthers were met with an even bigger test on Sunday in the Chicago Classic Championship Game. They took on the defending National Champions, the Minot State Beavers.
Davenport showed they belonged one of the best teams in the country.
Adam Goudelock and
Marc Anderson helped put the Panthers to an early lead, but the Beavers tried to make a comeback. However, DU's defense, along with more great goaltending from
Jason Rhynold, DU was able to pick up their third win over a ranked opponent this season.
QUICK STATS
Final Score: Davenport 4 – Minot State 3
Shots: DU 14 | MSU 31
Power Play: DU (1/5) | MSU (1/3)
Records: #12 DU (5-2) | #3 MSU (5-1-2)
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Goudelock picked up his second hat trick of the season, including his second game-winning goal.
Chris Corgan and
Ian Thompson each notched two assists in the game. Rhynold picked up his fifth win of the season, making 28 saves.
GETTING OUT IN FRONT
Davenport got a good jump in the first period, outshooting the Beavers 9-8 in the first 20 minutes. With just over six minutes left in the period, Anderson scored, with the assists coming from
Jake Pobur and Corgan, to give DU the 1-0 lead.
They were able to carry the lead into the second period, and just over eight minutes in, Goudelock would score, with help from Corgan and
Walker Aurand, to give DU a two-goal lead. Thompson and
Nathan Nickelson would set up Goudelock for his second of the game, on the power play, with a little over five minutes left in the period, and Davenport would have a 3-0 lead heading into the third period.
HANGING ON
The Beavers did not take too kindly to the Panthers, and brought on an onslaught towards the Panthers' goal. A few minutes into the final frame, Morgan Poirier scored to put Minot State on the board. Less than five minutes later, Jordan Robertson scored, and just like that it was a one-goal game.
Minot State ended up outshooting the Panthers 17-1 in the third period, but the one shot DU got was Goudelock's third goal of the game with just over eight minutes left in regulation.
Justin Metcalf scored with a couple minutes left, and Minot State could smell the tying goal. However, Rhynold and the Panthers shut the door, as they would go on to take down the defending champs by a final score of 4-3.
Coach
Phil Sweeney was mightily impressed with his team's play this weekend.
"What a great weekend of hockey for our program," Sweeney stated after the win. "We have a short bench, and a lot of guys playing different roles. The fact that we beat two elite programs shows our leaders have everyone on board."
WHO'S NEXT?
The Panthers take a week off before another tough test on the road, as they travel down to Missouri to take on the Lions of Lindenwood University. The Lions are currently ranked #2 in the country, and will be coming off of a weekend set with #17 Robert Morris (Ill.) before meeting with the Panthers.
DU is 8-12-2 against the Lions, all-time. Their first game against Lindenwood will be at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights on November 9
th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.
