Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After a dominating performance on Friday night, the D2 Hockey team returned home for the final home game of the season in game two of their weekend set against Bowling Green.
 
The Saturday night clash was much tighter than the one on Friday. Despite DU jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Falcons clawed their way back, and late shorthanded goal helped them to only their third win of the season.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 2 – Bowling Green 3
Shots: DU 34 | BGSU 19
Power Play: DU (0/5) | BGSU (0/2)
Records: #14 DU (4-2-1) | BGSU (3-6)
 
STARTING OFF STRONG
 
The Panthers offense that went quiet in the latter of the game on Friday night came alive in the early stages of the game on Saturday. Just over five minutes into the game, Nathan Hartline took a shot coming down the right wing that was stopped by Falcon netminder Blake Forystek, but the rebound was tapped in by freshman Will Healy to put DU out in front. The Panthers would increase their lead to two a little passed the halfway mark of the frame, as Jeff Rahilly fired in his third goal of the weekend.
 
GETTING STONEWALLED
 
The Falcons were able to get on the board late in the first period as Jake Schuette scored his second of the season, but DU still led by one heading into period. However, just 12 seconds into the period, after a miscue in the Panther zone, Jack Ores tapped in his third of the season to tie the game at two.
 
DU responded by ramping up their offense. Yet, the Bowling Green netminder turned away all 12 shots he faced in the second period. Including a nice breakaway save on Gabe Partridge, and the game remained tied at two heading into the third period.
 
SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
 
In the third period, fatigue seemed to set in for the Panthers, who were playing their third game in three nights. The Falcons outshot Davenport 12-9 in final frame, but Drake Deering stood tall and kept the game tied with some nice stops of his own.
 
With just over a minute to go in regulation, DU was rewarded with a power play. With less than 30 seconds left, Adam Hulsey was upended in the Bowling Green zone, and the Falcons' Ryan Hill and Hunter Schlatterbeck went on a shorthanded 2-on-0. Hill dropped a pass for Schlatterbeck, who snuck a shot by Deering with 19.8 seconds left in the third.
 
The Panthers were unable to find the tying goal, and for the first time in their program's history, the Falcons defeated the Panthers, 3-2 the final score.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
Davenport hits the road next weekend for a pair of games with Lake Superior State. The Lakers are 1-6-1 heading into the weekend, with the Panthers winning the first two meetings at home back in February by a combined score of 13-2.
 
Both games will be at the historic Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Game one on Friday, March 19, is set for a 7 p.m. puck drop.