Portage celebrates Cox’s opening goal.
Portage beat the visiting OCN Blizzard 3-2 in game 3 last night of the best of 7 MJHL Final in front of a packed Dog Pound.
Portage came out of the gate finishing checks and throwing pucks on net registering 5 shots before OCN took their first. 3:14 into the game Takato Cox scored his first of the series picking up his own rebound and finding the back of the net for the Terriers first lead of the series. Portage finished the period outshooting OCN a solid 12-5.
Portage looked like they might get in to some trouble when Layne Toder took a minor for tripping and a minute later Mackenzie Dwyer would join him in the box for slashing giving OCN a 5 on 3 for a minute. Josh Martin ended up scoring shorthanded beating Epp at 7:32 of the second for a two goal Terrier lead. Just over a minute later Hebert would cut the Terriers lead in half tipping a puck passed Chapman. Then with a 1:19 left in the frame, George King found mesh on a scramble in front to tie the game at 2.
Portage regained the lead when Takato Cox broke away down the right wing and beat Epp with a snipe from the top of the circle. With 1:24 left in the 3rd OCN pulled their goalie trying to even things up and force the extra frame, but Portage hung on for the win.
Chapman picks up the win with 21 saves. Portage went 0 for 5 on the powerplay and OCN went 0 for 2. Game 4 goes tomorrow night at Stride Place 7:30pm. OCN leads the series 2-1.