Written by Thomas Biondo
DEARBORN, Mich. - A couple of former conference foes got together for the one and only time this season as the D1 hockey team traveled to Dearborn to take on the #5 Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines. Michigan came in having lost its last home game to Aquinas on January 25
th, while the Panthers came in on a three-game winning streak with two wins over Kent State and a win Tuesday over Western Michigan, 3-0.
Despite outplaying the number 5 team in the land for much of the hockey game, the Panthers would be unable to overcome an early two goal deficit, falling to the Wolverines by a score of 4-3.
QUICK STATS
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Michigan-Dearborn 4
Shots: DU 35 | UM-Dearborn 20
Power Play: DU (0/3) | UM-Dearborn (0/2)
Records: #9 DU (16-7) | #5 UM-Dearborn (18-6-2)
A HAILING START
Michigan would strike first in the game scoring less than two minutes in. Nick LaBurn would be dealt a loose puck at the bottom of the left circle. With no Panthers around him, he was able to head to the front of the net and tuck one in by Rodgers for the early lead. Michigan would be able to double their lead after cashing in on a blocked shot that favorably bounced onto the stick of Mathieu LaForest for the back-hand goal in the circle.
BACK IN THE GAME
Despite the two-goal deficit, DU continued to attack the Wolverine net. With just over 4 minutes left in the period, a great individual effort by Nathan Nicholson to fight through a check created a two on one opportunity that was finished off by
Joey Ogden. The Wolverines would respond about two minutes later when Mikhail Khudenko lifted a looping pass high into the DU zone that was handled by Justin Dunn behind the defense and then snapped past Rodgers. The Wolverines would have a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes, despite the Panthers outshooting them 12-7.
The Panthers came out and dominated the second period and were rewarded with a beautiful finish on an in-zone two on oh break.
Brad Reitter came down the left wing with
Austin Thompson parked on the side of the cage. Reitter fed it down to Thompson who one-timed a pass right back to Rietter who tapped it into the back of the net.
Ryan Wonfor would draw the secondary assist.
BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH
Though DU continued the attack, it was UM-Dearborn that would strike next. Billy Brock would be credited with a goal that appeared to change directs on the way to the net.
Alexander Rogers nearly got the blocker up but couldn't and the puck found the back of the net. Davenport would finish the period with two straight minutes of attack time on a power play put could not beat Thomas Proudlock. Second period shots would be 15-8 in favor of the Panthers.
Despite Michigan-Dearborn coming out strong in the 3
rd, Rogers and the Panther defense was able to stand tall. Davenport would stabilize and then move to the offense.
Ian Thompson would control the puck into the zone. He'd find
Chris Corgan with a pass up the wall. Corgan would then walk down the wing and throw a puck toward the cage.
Luke Cowan would stay hot since his return to the line-up and redirect the shot home. DU was back within one. They would have an excellent chance to tie the game mid-way through the third with about a minute of 4 on 3 power play time, but the Wolverine PK was stout. The third period would wind down with Rogers and Proudlock putting on a goaltending clinic. DU would pull the goaltender for the extra attacker with about 1:15 left in the hockey game, but they were unable to force overtime.
WHO'S NEXT?
The biggest weekend of the regular season for the Panthers begins next Thursday, as they take on the undefeated Adrian Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are the undisputed no. 1 team in the country, and are coming off a weekend set against Calvin.
The Bulldogs have handled the Panthers over the nine-year history of the rivalry, as they have won 23 of the 36 meetings dating back DU's first season in D1 in 2010-11.
Game one will be at the Arrington Ice Arena in Adrian on Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
