Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
ADRIAN, Mich. – After a tough loss against UM-Dearborn, the Panthers took on their toughest opponent yet this season in the Adrian Bulldogs. Davenport had not defeated the Bulldogs since the 2016-17 season. The Bulldogs were the coming in as the undisputed no. 1 team in the country, having not lost a game all season.
 
Adrian jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, but Davenport was able to settle to close the gap. Despite getting brutally outplayed in the second period, the Panthers only went into the final frame trailing by one. Yet, the Bulldogs scored two quick goals in the opening minutes, and DU was unable to recover, as Adrian won their ninth in a row over the Panthers.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Adrian 5
Shots: DU 25 | AC 58
Power Play: DU (1/3) | AC (0/3)
Records: #10 DU (16-8, 7-2) | #1 AC (27-0, 11-0)
 
HERE COMES THE HOME TEAM
 
The Bulldogs came flying out of the gate in the first period, and would put a mark on the scoreboard as Rainer Glimpel one-timed his 12^th of the season just 46 seconds into the period. Adrian continued to press as Manny Silverio was able to get loose in front of the Davenport net, scoring his 20^th goal of the season just passed the four-minute mark of the period.
 
TYING IT BACK UP
 
Thanks to the play of Zach Janis, the Panthers were able to kill of a penalty later on, and DU started to take the game to the Bulldogs, eventually getting a power play of their own. Jason Cohan would streak in through the defense and score his 11^th of the season to bring DU within one.
 
Early in period two, the Panthers took another penalty, but they were able to take advantage after Joey Ogden forced a turnover in the neutral zone. He flipped the puck into the Adrian zone where Marc Anderson got behind the defense, and poked the puck over the shoulder of the Bulldogs' Michael Barrett to tie the game at two.
 
OPENING THE GAME UP
 
Just passed the halfway mark of the period, the Bulldogs would regain the lead after a goal from Steve Spaedt.
 
In the third period, the Bulldogs quickly opened their lead up to three as Silverio first scored his second of the game to make it a 4-2 game. Just over a minute later, Mark Fratarcangeli scored his 19^th of the season, and the Bulldogs seemed well in control of the game.
 
NOT GIVING UP
 
Less than a minute later, Adam Goudelock scored his team-leading 15^th goal of the season to bring Davenport back within two.
 
DU started to find their legs after the goal, and started to look to shrink the Bulldog lead even more. They were almost hindered with a five-minute kill, but the Panthers were able to kill it off, and had a chance with a major power play themselves. Yet, they were not able to make the comeback, as the Bulldogs picked up the 5-3 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers wrap up the weekend set with the Bulldogs Friday night at Patterson Ice Center, puck drop scheduled for 8:35 p.m.