HUDSONVILLE, Mich. - The Davenport men's ACHA Division II hockey team is heading back to the National Tournament after an 8-2 win on Sunday afternoon over Marian (WI) in the Central Regionals. It is the first trip for the Panthers since 2009-10 when they won their third straight national championship. The eighth-seeded Panthers played like they were the higher seed as they took it to the third-seeded Sabres.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first period started with a quick exchange of goals. Marian's Connor Rosaasen was assisted by Tyren Boots at 2:59. Exactly one minute later, the Panthers counter-attacked with
Tyler Blackburn setting up
Brody White at 3:59. Marian's starting goaltender Justin Davidson was injured on the goal and so was relieved by William McCreight. McCreight would deal with a barrage of shots over the rest of the contest and give up seven goals on 39 shots against him.
The Panthers broke the tie at 12:51, when
Connor Seymour was centered by
Evan Carroll in the mid-slot area.
Kyle Mazur also earned an assist on the Panthers' second goal.
The Panthers preserved their 2-1 lead at 19:58 when goaltender
Drake Deering leapt out of the net to smother a hard slap shot that came from Marion Giorgione in the high slot.
The Panthers, who had killed off three Marian power play opportunities in the first period, continued their penalty-killing prowess in the second period. They fended off two more penalties while scoring a power play goal of their own.
At 10:56, Carroll scored an even-strength goal at close range after receiving a backhand pass from Seymour in the low slot, who had put a stick on a partially fanned shot by Tyler Jaenicke.
Marian struck back at 16:18 to cut the deficit to one when Colby Sherlock wristed one past Deering with Connor Martin and McCreight getting the assists.
Just 28 seconds later, a DU rush down the ice paid off in a goal from
Trevor Murray who was assisted by Carroll and Seymour at 16:46.
After the Sabres took a slashing penalty at 17:06, DU capitalized with their power play goal by
Jacob Demeter, assisted by Jaenicke and
Adam Hulsey. DU went into the locker room firmly in control after two periods, leading 5-2.
The Panthers put the game out of reach with goals at 0:22 and 1:33 of the third period. Carroll scored the first goal on a tap-in with assists credited to Seymour and Murray as McCreight was unable to smother a careening puck in the crease. Just 71 second later, the Panthers potted their seventh goal as
Clint Loney skated down the right wing and beat McCreight.
Jeff Rahilly was credited with an assist.
DU's eighth and final goal was scored by Seymour at 3:13 after taking a feed from White, who had intercepted a Marian pass in its defensive zone.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Davenport edged out the Sabres 42-37 in shots on goal
- Davenport finished 1-for-4 on the power play while Marian was stymied at 0-for-6
- Deering stonewalled the Sabres when it mattered the most and finished with 35 saves
- Seymour led the Panthers with five points and Carroll ended up with four points
- Today marked the eighth time this season that DU has scored eight or more goals in a game
