Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After the Thanksgiving Break, the D2 hockey team returned to the ice for a tough weekend set against one of the best team's in the Central Region. Their opponents were the Lindenwood Lions, a team that was coming off a sweep of Grand Valley State before the break, and had already defeated the Panthers back on Oct. 4.
 
It was a tight battle from start to finish, as neither team wanted to give up quality chances. Both teams took advantage of odd bounces, but penalties got the better of the Panthers. Lindenwood would take advantage on one of their five chances on the night and would go on to win their third straight against the Panthers.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Lindenwood 2
Shots: DU 21 – LU 34
Power Play: DU (0/3) | LU (1/5)
Records: #9 DU (8-8-2) | #3 LU (13-4-1)
 
LUCKY BREAK
 
Despite being the visitors coming off a long bus trip, it was the Lions who came out with jump in the opening minutes. They were given power play just passed the halfway mark of the period after a multi-player incident where DU would get the extra penalty. DU quickly cleared the puck after the ensuing faceoff, with Jeff Rahilly applying pressure on Lindenwood's Michael Schrader. After Rahilly pulled away, Schrader mishandled the puck near the Lions' net, as did goaltender Josh Martin. This allowed Clint Loney to swoop in and poke the puck by Martin for his seventh goal of the season, and the Panthers were out in front.
 
Though they were outshot 14-7 in the first period, the Panthers took the one-goal lead into the break.
 
UNLUCKY BOUNCE
 
The play was a lot more balanced in period two, but the Lions were able get a fortunate bounce of their own. Just passed the halfway mark of the period, Joe Bresingham flipped the puck from center towards Drake Deering. The puck took a weird hop right in front of Deering and fell into the back of the net to tie the game at one.
 
TOO MANY CHANCES
 
DU found themselves in penalty trouble later in the period. The Panthers took three penalties in the middle stanza, and were able to kill off the first two. However, on their third opportunity of the period, the Lions would finally convert. Alex Klaesner ripped a shot off the iron, but the Panthers failed to clear the puck. Klaesner followed that up by putting a shot by Deering for his 13^th goal of the season to give the Lions the lead.
 
STRUGGLING TO TIE
 
Davenport looked to bounce back in the third and tie the game, and would get a glorious chance as they would get a 5-on-3 power play. However, the Panthers were unable to score, and the Lions would control the rest of the game. DU would only get six shots in the final 20 minutes, and would go on to lose to the Lions for the second time this season by a final score of 2-1.
   
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers will wrap up their weekend set with the Lions Saturday evening at Patterson. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.