BYRON CENTER, Mich. - The Davenport ACHA men's Division I hockey team played to their first shootout of the season on Thursday night at Southside Ice Arena. The Panthers came away with a 3-2 victory after regulation and overtime could not break the 2-2 tie against Aquinas College in the first of two meetings this week. Davenport had a major advantage in this contest in the offensive zone with a total of 61 shots compared to 29 for the Saints. The first period in particular saw DU with 25 shots on net against Simon Johnson. The Saints would make adjustments in the second period and have a 15-9 edge in shots on goal. The third period and overtime once again was dominated by the Panthers with 19 shots in the third period and seven more in five minutes of overtime.
Taber Gutschick got the party started for the Panthers at 3:44 of the opening period on the power play. He scored his first goal of the season and DU's only power play goal in four chances on the night.
Kristers Klavins and
Noah Bradburn each had an assist on the game's first tally. Fast forward to the second period where Xavier Erickson scored at 10:17 unassisted for the Saints in the only goal of the middle stanza.
Onto the third period where Klavins gave Davenport a 2-1 lead at the 6:06 mark for his first goal of the season from
Ryder McMillen and
Branwen Pollett. The Saints would find the equalizer and it was Erickson again with his second goal of the game and sixth goal of the season from Gavin Rozema and Alex Johnson. The overtime period saw McMillen take an interference penalty at 4:57, but it did not hurt the team as the penalty kill was able to do its job. Aquinas finished the game 0-for-3 on the man advantage.
Nathan Gauthier stepped up big time in the shootout for DU as he stopped all three shots against him by Rozema, Erickson, and Johnson. Klavins took the first attempt for the Panthers and buried it for what would be the winning goal.
Heath Drye and
Peter Stojcevski were stopped by Simon Johnson who finished with 58 saves. Gauthier stopped 27 shots against him to get the win in net for the Panthers. These two teams will face-off again on Sunday (Oct. 13) inside Patterson Ice Center at 6:05 PM. Next up though on Friday (Oct. 11) is a date against No. 10 Calvin in GL6 conference play at 8:35 PM from Patterson Ice Center. The Knights are off to a 4-0 start to their season with two wins against Cleary and UM-Dearborn.
