The Calvin University Knights ACHA D1 Hockey Team defeated the Davenport University Panthers 5-4 on Friday night.
Going into Friday's game the Knights were on a tough three game losing streak and desperately needed to start to turn things around and get back to their winning ways.
In the first period, like most games between the Knights and the Panthers started with high intensity and high pressure on both ends of the ice. The Knights broke the deadlock first with about seven minutes to go in the period with a goal from Jared Virtanen. The Panthers pushed back hard after the Knights found the opening goal but the Knights defense held firm and kept the Panthers off the board in the frame.
At the end of the first period the Knights were leading the Panthers 1-0. The Knights also got outshot 10-12.
In the second period the Knights played some of their best hockey so far this season. Eight minutes into the period after relentless offensive pressure from the Knights they extended their lead to two goals with a goal from Harmen Vining with the assist from Maverick Baxtrom. Unfortunately, for the Knights about five minutes later the Panthers found the back of the net to cut the Knights lead back to one. Just two minutes later the Knights got the goal back with a goal from Virtanen with the assists from Graham Kormash and Ian Elkins. With the Knights lead back to two goals they looked to keep the pressure on the Panthers. With about a minute to go in the frame the high pressure paid off for the Knights as they found the back of the net once again. This time the goal came from Kormash with the helper from Jacob Siebenga.
At the end of the second period the Knights led the Panthers 4-1. The Knights outshot the Panthers 20-10.
In the third period the Panthers started to kick their game into gear. They began to put even more pressure on the Knights defense. About five minutes into the period the pressure paid off and the Panthers found the back of the net for the second time to cut the Knights lead down to two once again. Five minutes later once again the Knights struck back with a goal from Cal Erdmann. With the Knights back up three goals they began to take their foot off the gas and the Panthers jumped right in and took advantage. With six minutes to go in the frame the Panthers found a way through the Knights defense and quickly brought the Knights lead back down to two goals. About four minutes later the Panthers took advantage of the Knights lapse in focus and found the back of the net again to bring the Knights lead down to one. The Knights then locked it down in the back for the rest of the period and held onto the one goal lead.
At the end of the third period the Knights came out victorious over the Panthers 5-4. The Knights outshot the Panthers 14-11.
Knights Goaltender Darin Fox had a fantastic game with 29 saves on the night.
The Knights are back in action Tuesday, March 2nd as they take on the Davenport University Panthers at 9:00PM.
