Written by Tyler Kuehl
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The D1 Hockey team came back after a week off to meet with the Calvin Knights for the third game in a row. The two teams split the previous weekend set, with the Knights earning the win at Patterson.
It was all Calvin for the majority of the first two periods and built what looked like a comfortable heading into the third period. Yet, the Panthers refused to go away, making the game interesting. Despite a valiant effort, DU would fall short, as the Knights defeated the Panthers for the second time this season.
QUICK STATS
Final Score: Davenport 4 – Calvin 5
Shots: DU 34 | CU 48
Power Play: DU (0/4) | CU (1/3)
Records: #3 DU (2-2) | #4 CU (3-3)
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Nathan Nickelson led the offense with a goal and an assist in the game, with
Alexander Rogers stopping 43 of the 48 shots he faced.
TURNING OVER THE LEAD
The game started with both teams trying to feel each other, with DU having had a week off, and the Knights who dropped three straight games.
Late in the period, Jared Virtanen was able to force a turnover from DU's
Zachary Currie, and was able to walk in to score his fifth goal of the season to put the Knights out in front.
In period two, the Knights increased the pressure in the Panther zone, and were rewarded as Harmen Vining scored his first with Calvin to give the Knights a two-goal lead.
GETTING ON THE BOARD
A few minutes passed the halfway mark of the frame,
Marc Anderson had the puck at the blueline in the Knights' zone. He took a shot that was kicked out by Calvin netminder Darin Fox. That was when captain Nickelson followed up the rebound by burying his third of the season to bring the Panthers back within one.
PULLING AHEAD
The Knights wasted little time regaining the two-goal lead, as Virtanen potted his second of the game to make 3-1 Knights. Late in the period, while Calvin was on the power play, Jacob Siebenga set up Graham Kormash with a beautiful pass, and Kormash blasted the one-timer by Rogers to send the Knights into the third period with a three-goal cushion.
GETTING BACK INTO IT
A few minutes into the final frame,
Brad Reitter picked up a loose puck in his own zone. He hit top-speed entering the Calvin zone, and made an amazing play to beat Fox, and make it a 4-2 games.
DU looked to get even closer with a power play just minutes later, but it was Calvin who took advantage. Cal Erdmann forced a turnover as the Panthers were breaking out of their own zone, and he beat Rogers to restore the three-goal lead for Calvin.
COMING CLOSE
The Panthers were down, but not out. With a little over six minutes remaining, Currie ripped in his third goal of the season to bring the Panthers back within two. DU continued to pressure, and after pulling the goaltender with two minutes left,
Joey Ogden put one home make it a one-goal game.
The Panthers went back on the attack, and had a couple chances in the dying seconds, but were not able to beat Fox. Calvin held on for the 5-4 win.
WHO'S NEXT?
DU has a quick turnaround for their toughest test of the season, as they get set to take on the no. 2 team in the country, longtime rival Adrian College. The Bulldogs head into the game with an 11-1 record, coming off a win over no. 6 Ohio.
Adrian has won 25 of the 38 meetings all-time against the Panthers, and have won the last 10 games, the longest streak in the series history for either team.
Puck drop at Patterson is set for 8:30 p.m.
