Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The D3 hockey team was riding high after a win over Western Michigan on Friday, and looked to get their second weekend sweep in a row on Saturday night.
 
In a wild, high-scoring contest, the Panthers did just that. Special teams were important throughout the night, with both teams scoring on the man advantage. Even though both goaltenders gave up plenty of goals, both did everything they could to give their respective clubs a chance to win. Despite squandering multiple leads throughout the game, the Panthers were able to pull through after George Hangas' game-winning goal in overtime.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 8 – Western Michigan 7 (OT)
Shots: DU 51 | WMU 42
Power Play: DU (2/6) | WMU (4/7)
Records: DU (7-7) | WMU (2-7-1-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
The top line for the Panthers led the charge once again. Charlie Bonser tallied two goals and two assists, while Tyler Heyboer helped out with two assists. Hangas, Christopher Heath and Marcus Chartrand each picked up a goal and an assist, and Austen Strauss earned his second win of the season, making 35 saves.
 
JUMPING OUT IN FRONT
 
Davenport would get an early power play after Shane Aigner went off for five minutes after checking Andrew Papcunik from behind. The Panthers would not be able to convert on the major penalty, but would get another chance with a man advantage shortly thereafter. They would not pass up the opportunity this time, as after a nice passing play by Hangas and Heath, Bonser would score his eighth goal of the season by picking the top corner.
 
A few minutes later, after a pass in front was deflected away and towards the blueline, Heath blasted a slapshot through the Stallions' Jared Holsing to put DU up by two.
 
BOUNCING BACK
 
Seconds after he scored, Heath went to the box putting Western Michigan on the power play. The Stallions would convert after Jeff Kirkendall fed Garrett Lesser with a pass in the slot. Lesser got barely anything on the one-timer, but it somehow bounced by Strauss and in to put the Stallion on the board.
 
Brown would go off for five minutes after getting called for a head check, and Bonser would go off shortly thereafter to give the Stallions a 5-on-3 power play. Brennan Kelly would score his fourth goal of the season after bouncing an attempted pass off Hangas to tie the game.
 
In the dying seconds of the period, Lesser took a shot that went off Strauss' stick and up into the air. As the puck came down, it somehow found its way into the back of the net, and the Stallions found themselves with a one-goal lead heading into the first intermission.
 
QUICK STRIKES
 
Davenport did not take too kindly to Western Michigan taking the lead, and took advantage of another power play opportunity. Heyboer worked the puck to the slot to Brown, who fired a shot underneath the pad of Holsing to tie the game at three. 22 seconds later, after John Lizyness through the puck towards the goal, Thomas Chaulk found a way to tap in his fourth of the season to put the Panthers back out in front.
 
Less than a minute later Aiden Dion was on a 2-on-1 with Hunter Tolsdorf. When Dion tried to pass the puck to Tolsdorf, it bounced off Western's Billy Lukwinski and in to give DU their second two-goal lead of the night.
 
STAMPIN' STALLIONS
 
12 seconds after Dion's 15^th of the season, Jacob Dudash drove towards the Panther net and fell down, but somehow slid the puck passed Strauss for his sixth goal of the season to bring Western Michigan back within one. Later on in the period, Kelly would score his second goal of the game to tie the game at five.
 
PACKIN' PANTHERS
 
Only 46 seconds after the Stallions tied the game, Bonser would find a way to slip his way behind the Western defense, and fired a shot that beat the blocking arm of Holsing for his second goal of the game, giving Davenport their third lead of the night.
 
Davenport carried the one-goal lead into the third period, and five minutes in, Tolsdorf would set up Chartrand with a perfect pass, and Chartrand pounded a one-timer through Holsing to give DU a 7-5 lead.
 
A LEAD IS NEVER SAFE
 
Western Michigan would go to the power play moments after the Chartrand goal, and they would convert for the fourth time on the night as Lesser scored his third of the game, earning the hat trick solely with power play markers. With just over seven minutes left, Kristopher Kozoro found John Robbins open in the slot, and he scored his first of the season to tie the game at seven.
 
Neither team could score for the remainder of regulation, so the game went to overtime.
 
GAME. OVER.
 
DU was buzzing in overtime, garnering a plethora of chances in the Stallions' end. With under a minute left in overtime, and moments after Brown had a glorious point-blank chance, Bonser moved the puck up to the point for Hangas. With Heyboer providing the screen in front, Hangas threw a wrister on goal, and it sailed into the back of the net.
 
Hangas' fourth goal of the season gave the Panthers the 8-7 win, and their third weekend sweep of 2019.
     

WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers have another tough MCHC battle next weekend, as they get to take on the Ferris State Clubdawgs. Ferris State is currently ranked third in the North Region and are 10-2 this season after coming off a weekend sweep of Indiana. The Panthers have failed to win in six meetings with the Clubdawgs.
 
They will look to reverse that trend next weekend. First game of the weekend will take place at the Ewigleben Ice Arena on the 22^nd, with a 10 p.m. puck drop.