The puck dropped on Game one of the MJHL playoffs last night at Stride Place as the Terriers look to defend their title for the 4th straight season.
It was a tentative first 20 minutes of playoff hockey, both teams feeling each other out. It wasn’t until halfway through the second period when Ty Enns opened the scoring burying a Barnstable rebound off the post. The lead was short lived as Brady Castellano evened things at one on a powerplay marker a couple minutes later.
James McIsaac restored Portage’s lead beating Link from the slot. The Dogs would carry the lead into the 3rd.
Brady Castellano tallied his 2nd goal of the night 6:20 into the 3rd to tie the game at 2. Portage had chances to take back the lead, but Link made some solid saves.
With 6:42 to go in the 3rd, the Terriers killed off a 4 minute high sticking penalty to Mackenzie Dwyer to force the extra frame.
The first 10 minute overtime was scoreless as both teams were visibly tired. Devon Skoleski decided the outcome beating Lasse Petersen 5:09 into the second overtime to take game one.
“We can be better,” said Blake Spiller, head coach of the Portage Terriers following the Game 1 loss. “We didn’t get enough out of everybody here tonight, but it’s one game in a series. Sometimes the first game at home can be a little bit tough on teams and hopefully we’ll settle in here now and know we’re in a series.”
The Terriers head to Winnipeg tomorrow looking to tie things up in game 2. Game time 6:30pm Bell MTS Ice Plex.
