HAMMOND, Ind. – Brett Bandstra's slap-shot goal midway through the third period was the equalizer in a 5-5 overtime tie between Purdue Northwest (2-6-1) and Davenport (2-0-1) Friday afternoon at The Kube.
 
The game is officially recorded as a tie, but the teams agreed to a 3-on-3 shootout with PNW coming out on top. PNW goaltender Kyle Fritz recorded 44 saves through regulation and overtime, and stopped all three of DU's attempts in the shootout. Leading goal scorer Craig Herman put the puck in net on the second PNW shootout attempt.
 
PNW led 2-1 with goals scored by Josh Hall and Herman in the second period. Hall tied the game on a wraparound shot in the third minute, and Herman put the Pride in front on a beautiful coast-to-coast run down the left side. Herman leads the team with eight goals in nine games.
 
The lead was short-lived though, as Davenport tied the game 2-2 and the Panthers took a 3-2 lead into second intermission.
 
The Pride got going in the third period with an early goal by Kevin Pietrucha, his third of the season, which tied the score 3-3.
 
However, DU continued to have an answer each time PNW tied it up. The Panthers scored 33 seconds after Pietrucha's goal to take a 4-3 lead in the third period.
 
A goal scored with 15:36 left in regulation by Cole Bocock was countered two minutes later by another Panther goal to put DU ahead 5-4. Bocock found the back of the net for the third time this season after gathering his own rebound at the net. Brandon Prodoehl fed Bocock in the slot for his team-leading fourth assist.
 
Midway through the third, Bandstra's equalizer came in the 10th minute as the Lake Central High School product scored in clutch fashion. He fired from the top of PNW's offensive end, near the blue line, for his first collegiate goal.
 
Both teams had four shots on goal in the five-minute overtime period.
 
DU goalie Drake Deering recorded 41 saves on the day.
 
NEXT UP
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in Grand Rapids. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CST).