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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
Zach Janis
Walter Cronk

Men's Ice Hockey (DI)

Illinois Outlasts Davenport in a Goaltending Duel

Illini finally tallied the first goal of the game late in regualtion to pick up the win.

Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a much needed bye week, the D1 hockey team prepped for a big weekend against another ranked opponent. They welcomed the Fighting Illini from the University of Illinois to Patterson for the first time ever on Friday. Both teams were in much need of wins if they wanted to take one step closer to a bid to the National Tournament.
 
In a goaltending clinic neither offense could get anything passed either team's goaltenders. Illinois would be the only team to notch anything up on the board, and go on to pick up the big road win.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 0 – Illinois 2
Shots: DU 32 | UI 32
Power Play: DU (0/1) | UI (0/2)
Records: #10 DU (16-10) | #17 (18-10-3-1)
 
THE WALLS OF JANIS AND BARNHART
 
The stars of the show on Friday were, without a doubt, the masked men. DU's Zach Janis and the Illini's Jacob Barnhart were outstanding for their respective clubs throughout the game.
 
Illinois created the majority of the chances in the first period, outshooting the Panthers by a 16-7 margin, but Janis shut the door.
 
 In the second period, the Illini had a great opportunity to break the game open with back-to-back power plays. However, Janis and the DU penalty kill stood pat, killing them both off. After that, DU started to pick up their offensive play, forcing Barnhart to make to big stops to keep the game scoreless.
 
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
 
As the third began, both sides were beside themselves on how to find a goal. With a little over five minutes remaining in regulation, Illinois found the answer. Bobby Ernsting brought the puck into the Davenport zone on a 3-on-2, gave the puck to Zach Hayes who quickly fed a pass to leading-scorer Thomas Kolaz who buried his 13th of the season to finally break the ice.
 
Davenport would get a power play moments later, but were unable to convert, and with just over 90 seconds left in the game Jack Healy tipped in a Braden Stewart pass to seal the deal, giving the Illini the 2-0 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The two teams will meet Saturday afternoon to finish the weekend set. Puck drop at Patterson is set for 3:35 p.m.
 
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