Box Score Byron Center, Mich. – After a tough weekend against Grand Valley, Aquinas was looking to righten the ship with a late-night home hockey bout against the Davenport Panthers on Thursday (Oct. 10). The two teams went down to the wire in a closely-contested game, with the two teams needing bonus hockey to settle the winner. AQ and DU went into overtime with a 2-2 score and even three-on-three overtime hockey could not separate the two teams.
The game went into a shootout, where Davenport managed to score the first and only goal to pick up the win.
Davenport 2, Aquinas 2 (Davenport Won Shootout 1-0)
Aquinas showed some fire to begin the game, pressuring the offensive third and putting several shots on target in the first couple of minutes. However, an early Aquinas penalty just three minutes into the contest gave the Panthers a power play. Ten seconds later, DU converted its power play into a goal to take an early lead.
That goal shifted the momentum in the opening period, as much of the remaining time was spent with Davenport in control.
Simon Johnson was great in net, making several good saves to keep the Saints just one goal down. AQ killed off its second penalty of the game with 7:48 on the clock, but DU continued to hold possession.
At the end of the initial period, Davenport maintained the 1-0 lead with S. Johnson making 24 saves in the first period.
The second period quieted down with both teams' defense playing well. There was a bit of back-and-forth, but neither side generated many scoring opportunities. That changed with 10 minutes left in the half when
Xavier Erickson went top shelf to beat the Davenport goalie to tie up the game. His unassisted goal now gives the senior five goals this season.
As the second period began winding down, AQ received a couple of powerplay chances, but Davenport managed to kill them both off to keep the game level at one going into the second intermission.
Davenport was the next to strike in the third period, scoring with just under 14 minutes left on the clock. The Panthers generated a two-on-one chance to retake the lead. Just a couple of minutes later, Erickson was issued a penalty, giving DU a power play. The game appeared to be shifting into the visitor's direction but, immediately after exiting the penalty box, Erickson found the back of the net again to tie the game.
Arseniy Malyutin and
Alex Johnson provided the helpers on the goal.
With the regulation clock ticking away, Davenport peppered the net with shots, but S. Johnson would not be beaten, taking the game into overtime.
Davenport generated three consecutive one-on-one chances near the end of overtime, but S. Johnson continued to be a brick wall in the net. After overtime, the score still remained 2-2.
The Panthers shot first and scored first with a nice fake, giving DU an early lead.
Gavin Rozema took the opening shot for the Saints but pushed the puck wide. S. Johnson was back to his stout ways in the second and third DU shots, holding the Panthers out of the net. Erickson took the second shot for the Saints, but the DU goalie just managed to make the save.
With the game on the line, A. Johnson needed to score the final shot, but he just barely put his shot wide, giving Davenport the nail-biting victory.
By the Numbers
- S. Johnson had an incredible game in the net, making 58 saves on the 60 shots he saw on target.
- Erickson's two goals puts the senior at six goals through five games.
- Malyutin and A. Johnson both now have three assists this season.
- Davenport has had AQ's number as of late, winning three of the last four matchups.
Up Next
The Saints will play the road portion of the two-game series against Davenport on Sunday (Oct. 13) at Patterson Ice Arena.
