For the fourth time this month, the Terriers faced the Pistons. In all 3 previous outings, Steinbach came out on the winning end, but tonight Portage played with purpose.
In their 6th annual Cancer Care game, interesting to note they have yet to lose one, Portage started the game on fire.
Sheldin Howard scored the first of the game 57 seconds in. The line of Howard, Funk and Reece was firing and doubled Portages lead less than 5 minutes later, Howard finishing a feed from Funk for his 2nd of the night.
Portage played a strong period, but Mole cut the Terriers’ lead in half late in the period scoring 5 hole on a screened Peterson in his first game as a dog.
Portages penalty kill went to work in the 2nd as they were assessed 6 minors and were able to kill them all. Lane Taylor notched his 4th of the season scoring on a blistering point shot. Howard was able to complete the hat trick collecting the puck on a turnover in the neutral zone and scoring short side on Matt Rodomsky. The Terriers carried a 4-1 lead into intermission.
Looking to turn things around, the Pistons made a goaltending change for the third. Rodomsky was done for the night and Matt Lenz took over.
Just shy of 4 minutes in, Westbrook redirected a shot from Cleland passed Peterson to make it a 2 goal game. Portages Murray answered going bar down on a Calder rebound to restore the 3 goal lead.
Frustration and tempers showed in the 3rd Billaney and Beachemin squaring off and Kaufman and Murray each earning misconducts for a minor scuffle.
Portage picked up the 2 points and their first win over the Pistons, now just one point ahead of them in 2nd place.
Peterson picks up his first win as a Terrier in net with a solid performance backing 20/22 shots.
The Terriers will have little rest as they head to Wayway tomorrow to take on the Wolverines in their first meeting of the season. Game time 6:00 pm.
Terriers Fight Cancer
There were 831 fans in attendance tonight, all in an effort to battle Cancer.
Central Plains Cancer Services, game sponsor McCain and the Terriers raised money this evening through the jersey auction, 50/50 and raffles. The Portage Terriers will present a cheque to CPCS at a future game for the total amount raised.
Thank-you Portage Terrier Fans!