Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The D2 hockey team was back on the road Friday night, as they traveled just passed the state capitol for a meeting with the Michigan State Spartans. Davenport was feeling good after winning two of three games against ranked opponents, while the Spartans were looking to end a losing skid that dated back to October.
 
The Spartans jumped out to the lead in the first period, but DU bounced back to tie the game before the end of the frame. The Spartans would take control of the game in period two, before DU came storming back to tie the game late in the third period. Davenport would have the last laugh, as they were able to complete the comeback with the win in overtime.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 6 – Michigan State 5 (OT)
Power Play: DU (0/4) | MSU (0/3)
Records: #9 DU (14-10-3-1) | #20 MSU (6-14)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Five Panthers each had a goal and an assist in the win. Marc Rotondo, Tyler Blackburn, Connor Seymour, Tyler Blackburn and Cole Uzzell each were key parts for the DU offense. Robert Pegrum earned his fourth win of the season in goal.
 
STAT(E)ING THEIR CLAIM
 
The first period saw a feeling-out process between the two teams, but it would be the home team striking first, as Lachlan Sawall scored his second of the season before the halfway mark of the frame. Only a few minutes later, the Panthers would answer as Rotondo found the back of the net for the fourth time in as many games to tie the game at one.
 
In period two, MSU would begin to take control. In the first minute of the period, leading-scorer Jason Petras scored his 11^th of the season to give the Spartans their second lead of the game. Only a couple minutes later, Blackburn would score his third of the season to once again bring the game level.
 
The Spartans would answer right back. Less than five minutes into the period, Joseph Majoros scored his second of the season to give Michigan State their third lead of the game. Moments later, Sawall would score his second of the game, and in a six-minute span MSU had given themselves a 4-2 lead.
 
START THE COMEBACK
 
While DU could not do any damage on the scoresheet in the remainder of the second period, but in the third they caught fire. A little over the halfway mark of the period, Seymour scored his 14^th goal of the season to bring the Panthers back within one. A few minutes later, freshman Spencer Sandberg tallied his 11^th of the year, and just like that the game was tied once again.
 
With just over a minute left in regulation, however, the Spartans would find their way back to the lead as Nick Zervos scored for the Spartans.
 
Following the goal, a melee ensued, resulting in the ejections of MSU's Brian Burns and Davenport's Jeff Rahilly.
 
After the dust settled, and the puck was dropped, Davenport went searching for the equalizer. They would not wait long, as only 22 seconds after the Majoros goal, captain Trevor Murray scored to the game at five.
 
In overtime, the Panthers would find a way to end the chaotic finish, as Uzzell with less than 90 seconds left in the extra period to give Davenport the 6-5 victory.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
DU will meet Michigan State Saturday afternoon to complete the weekend set. Puck drop at Patterson is set for 3:20 p.m.