Davenport Tied Atop MCHC Blue Division After 2-1 Win Over Hope
Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport Skated to a 2-1 victory over Hope on Friday night. Hope came into the game as the No. 1 team in the North region and with a one game lead in the MCHC Blue Division. The Panthers will have a chance to win the programs first MCHC regular season title as they travel to Holland, MI for a rematch against Hope.
Both teams came out with great speed in the first period and exchanged shots for the first half of the period. After a Davenport hooking penalty, the Dutchmen had the Panthers on their heels. Hope had a couple of good looks, but the Panthers penalty kill would prevail.
Less than a minute after killing off the penalty the Panthers got their opportunity to go on the Power Play. Davenport got good puck movement on the power play as they cycled the puck around.
Garrett Garber dumped the puck behind the net for
Chad Ouellette and Ouellette found
Bryon Guerin out in front of the net to give DU a 1-0 lead.
“Getting the power play goal in the first really changed the momentum of the game” commented Head Coach
Chris Green. “Killing of the penalty and responding with a power play goal of our own was huge”
Davenport carried the momentum into the second period, and quickly gained a 2-0 lead. Forward
Bryon Guerin made a great play on an aggressive forecheck by getting a stick lift on the Dutchmen defender. Next, Guerin slid the puck to
Mike Soto between the circles and Soto riffled the puck top shelf.
The remainder of the second period was a struggle for the Panthers as they spent half of the period on the penalty kill. Davenport's defense did a good job slowing down Hope's top ranked power play. The Panthers killed four out of the five power plays in the period and goaltender
John Cruse made 15 saves to help Davenport maintain a 2-1 lead.
In the third period the Panthers were able to stay out of the penalty box and played at full strength for the entire period. Davenport was able to control most of the play in the third as they registered 8 shots on net while helping Cruse protect the one goal lead. Hope was limited to only 6 shots on goal as they were trying to tie the game up. The Dutchmen pulled their goal with 41 seconds remaining as they made one last effort to tie the game up. The Panthers were able to fend off the late surge by Hope and walked away with a 2-1 victory.
Davenport was outshot by Hope 32-29 for the game.
John Cruse registered his 13
th win of the season and stopped 28 of the 29 pucks thrown his way. Davenport and Hope will square off again Saturday night at The Edge Ice Arena at 8:15 PM. Live stats will be available for the game.
Post-Game Quotes Chris Green and Scott Knight.
Green on penalty kill “Our penalty kill played great tonight. They were on the ice for half of the second period against one of the best power plays we have played this year, and limited them to one goal.”
Knight on play of
John Cruse “Cruser showed why he is our number one goalie. He had a great game and came up with some big saves in key moments.”
Post-Game Notes
This is the second time this season that Davenport has beat the No.1 team in the North region. (Davenport defeated No. 1 Saginaw Valley 5-3)… Davenport is now has a 3-6 all-time record against Hope…Davenport is tied for first in the MCHC Blue Division with Hope with an 11-2 conference record.
