Portage celebrates Chase Brakel’s goal and the overtime win.
Portage tied the best of 7 MJHL final series tonight at 2 beating the OCN Blizzard 4-3 in overtime in front of their biggest crowd this season.
For the second game in a row, Portage was first to strike when Jeremey Leipsic found the back of the net 3:28 in to the first on the powerplay. The lead was short lived as Dumont tied the game a minute and a half later putting one passed Chapman with Elie and King assisting.
The next goal of the game wouldn’t come for another 27 minutes, both teams having their chances with neither one converting until Rafter scored the go ahead goal over halfway through the second, Elie and King assisting again.
Heading in to the third down one, Josh Martin buried an end board rebound to score the tying goal just 35 seconds in to the final frame. Portage would regain the lead later in the period when Takato Cox found Cody Thompson open on the right wing and he was able to beat Epp from the top of the circle.
With 1:18 left in the game, OCN pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. Unlike the night before they were able to tie it up with Anthony Keeper finding George King back door.
Into the extra frame, both teams fought off a penalty before Chase Brakel banged home a James McIsaac rebound for the game winner!
Kurtis Chapman picked up his second win of the series making 19 saves. Portage heads to OCN this Sunday for Game 5 at 7pm. You can listen to the game on CFRY with Cody B. Game 6 will be back in Portage Wednesday April 19th, tickets on sale now at Stride Place.