Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Following a game that saw the D1 Hockey team give up a 3-1 lead to Calvin en route to a 6-3 loss, the Panthers looked to bounce back against the Knights, this time on enemy territory.
 
DU jumped out to another big lead early on in the contest, but the Knights made it close once again. However, this time, Davenport hunkered down, and was able to pull out the win against their Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League rivals
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 5 – Calvin 3
Shots: DU 37 | CU 42
Power Play: DU (2/6) | CU (1/7)
Records: DU (2-1) | CU (2-1)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Jonathan Dubbink posted another two-goal game, as the rookie also added an assist. Alexander Rogers picked up his second win of the season, stopping 39 of the 42 shots he faced.
 
TAKING CONTROL AGAIN
 
DU looked for retribution after the loss on Friday in the opening frame on Saturday. Frederik Gildsig scored his first as a Panther just minutes into the contest to put Davenport out in front. A few minutes later, Kyle VanDusen scored for the Knights to tie the game at one.
 
That did not last long though, as Dubbink scored his third goal of the season to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead with a little over six minutes remaining in the period. Davenport had a power play late in the period, and Dubbink would bury his second of the game to give DU a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
 
SEALING THE VICTORY
 
The lone tally in the second period came by way of the Knights' Cal Erdmann, his second of the weekend. In the third, captain Nathan Nickelson scored his second of the season to give the Panthers a two-goal lead once again. Yet, the Knights hung around, as Christian Gums scored to make it a 4-3 game late in regulation. However, DU shut the door the rest of the way, and a Zachary Currie empty-netter helped the Panthers get the weekend split with a 5-3 win.
 
COACH'S CORNER
 
Head Coach Phil Sweeney was pleased on how his team responded after the loss on Friday.
 
"Coming into tonight, I was curious to see what kind of a team we have mentally," Sweeney said after the win. "I was impressed by our guys and our leaders…we picked up a very important win tonight."
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers will have the next 10 days off, before taking on Calvin once again. They'll meet at Eagles Ice Center on Feb. 24 for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.