Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Four days removed from their win over Robert Morris (Ill.), the D1 hockey team hit the road for the first time in 2020. They made their way down to Kalamazoo for the second time this season to meet with the Stallions of Western Michigan.
 
The Panthers had a great start to the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in first several minutes of the game. Despite starting netminder, Jason Rhynold, going down to injury, Zach Janis came in relief and did so admirably. Despite the Stallions picking up the pressure in the last half of the game, DU held the fort to pick up their eighth win in a row on Tuesday night.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Western Michigan 1
Shots: DU 39 | WMU 36
Power Play: DU (0/3) | WMU (0/5)
Records: #9 DU (12-5, 6-1) | WMU (9-10-1, 5-5)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Janis picked up his second win of the season, making # saves in the game. Ryan Wonfor assisted on all three goals for the Panthers, with Adam Goudelock scoring his team-leading 11^th goal of the season.
 
GREAT START
 
The last time the Panthers were in Kalamazoo, they trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes. They reversed that trend on Tuesday night. Minutes into the first period, Jason Cohan scored on a breakaway after Austin Thompson deflected a Wonfor pass to put DU up by one. Minutes later, Walker Aurand was able to fire a shot-pass through traffic onto the stick of Joey Ogden for his fourth of the season, and Davenport was up 2-0 before the halfway mark of the period.
 
TOUGH BLOW
 
Minutes after Ogden's goal, Rhynold got caught behind his own net after turning the puck over. Kyle Berry took a shot that looked like it was heading into the empty net, but Rhynold dove back and knocked it away with the paddle of his stick. However, moments later, Rhynold would leave the game with an apparent lower-body injury. That was when Janis came in relief for the Panthers.
 
ANOTHER ONE
 
Western Michigan came out with more energy in the second period. They would receive a power play around the halfway mark of the period, and would get a couple of good chances, but Janis and the Panthers stood tall.
 
After a Janis save, Goudelock was able to move the puck out of the zone for Wonfor, who streaked down the left-wing side. He then fired a pass back into the slot that found Goudelock, who deflected it into the back of the net to give Davenport a three-goal lead. That goal by Goudelock was his fourth shorthanded goal of the year, and the Panthers' ninth goal while on the penalty kill this season.
 
The third period went by with both teams getting excellent scoring chances, but neither team finding the back of the net. Even though it looked all but over, John Desmond scored his seventh of the season for the Stallions to break the shutout, but DU would still go on to win, 3-1.
   
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers get set for another home-and-home against the Aquinas Saints. The two teams met back in early October, with both the home teams winning each of the match-ups. Aquinas in 12-9-1-1 this season, and currently ranked 15^th in the country.
 
Game one of the weekend set will be at Southside Ice Arena down in Byron Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.