In a matchup of Top 10 ACHA Division I nationally-ranked teams, Adrian took both ends of a two-game series with Calvin, edging the Knights 5-4 Saturday night in Grand Rapids and then winning the return meeting 5-2 Monday evening at Adrian. The contests were both GL6 conference matches. Adrian is now 21-1-2 while Calvin is 19-5-0. Adrian entered the series ranked sixth nationally while Calvin came in ranked eighth. 

ADRIAN 5, CALVIN 4

The defending ACHA Division I national champion Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to see upset-minded Calvin score four unanswered goals to build a 4-3 third period lead. Adrian tallied twice in the final 3:24 of play to pull the game out of the fire however to secure the 5-4 win.

Adrian led 2-0 after one period of play on goals from sophomore Matteo Turin and senior Matthew DiCesara. Adrian senior Sebastian Smith scored on the power play just 2:13 into the second period to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

Calvin was far from finished as it turned on the gas in the third period. An Adrian turnover led by a goal by freshman Dario Sacino to make it 3-1 5:37 into the third.

Both teams were issued penalties minutes later, leading to a 4-on-4 situation. Calvin freshman Tony Eaton made good use of the extra ice space, whacking home his 11^th goal of the season with just over 11 minutes left to make it 3-2. With the crowd exhorting the home team on, the Knights were able to move into the Adrian zone again and tied the game at 3-3 on a one-time blast from the right wing by junior Steven Ickes with 9:50 left on the clock. The goal was the 10^th of the year for Ickes.

Calvin pressed for the go-ahead goal and found gold when junior captain Lou Vesperini slotted home a rebound with 4:50 left, bringing the home crowd to its feet as the Knights took a 4-3 lead.

Adrian was awarded a penalty shot with 3:24 remaining after a Calvin defender threw a stick attempting to clock a pass. Smith was given the penalty shot for the Bulldogs and made no mistake, lifting a shot over the blocker of Calvin sophomore goalie Adam Yost to knot the score 4-4.

With under two minutes left, Adrian got loose on a rush up the right wing, creating a soft 2-on-1 situation. Adrian sophomore Andreas Fleutot held on to the puck on the rush and whipped a shot into the top shelf with just 1:23 left to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead and the eventual victory.  

ADRIAN 5, CALVIN 2

Adrian broke open a cagey contest with three third period goals. The Bulldogs scored lone goals in the first and second period before scoring three in the third to build a 5-0 lead. Calvin countered with a pair of goals in the final 3:49 to provide the final margin of victory.

Calvin had a pair of power play opportunities in the first period but it was Adrian that lit the lamp first as sophomore Cash Regan scored with 5:14 left in the opening frame.

Adrian had a pair of power play chances to start the second period and converted on its second opportunity with junior Justin Jamer scoring on a 5-on-4 situation less than four minutes in.

Sebastian Smith scored early in the third period for a 3-0 Adrian lead and Regan scored his second goal of the contest, this coming with 7:51 remaining to make it 4-0. Adrian added a short-handed goal by graduate student Cameron Armstrong to lead 5-0.

Calvin scored a short-handed goal of its own as Steven Ickes stole a puck while killing off a 5-on-3 Adrian advantage. Ickes raced through the center with the turnover, deked Adrian goaltender Noah Decottignies and slipped a shot inside the right post for his 11^th goal of the season.

The Knights went on the power play with under two minutes left and found the net again with 1:29 remaining. On the power play, Ickes and junior Krzyzstof Petryla connected on a set of passes that led to a shot from the right slot by sophomore Ayden Adamic that found the back of the net to make it 5-2.

Calvin was unable to score again however as Adrian skated away with the win.

The Knights return to action on February 7 when it opens a weekend series with Grand Valley State at 7:30 p.m. at Eagles Ice Center.