Portage was in Winnipeg for their first game of the MJHL Showcase this afternoon against the second place Swan Valley Stampeders. It is just the second time the top two teams have met this season, Portage coming out ahead in their last meeting.
It was a spirited first period as both teams were physical and used their speed. The Terriers would get on the board first, Reece Henry battled on the boards and made the perfect centering pass to Braden Billaney for his 11th of the season.
Swan had some solid chances in the first outshooting the Terriers 15-7, but Peterson was solid in net for the dogs.
Without a ton of room Orca Wiesblatt stepped out from behind the net and tucked it short side on Pipes for a 2-0 Terrier lead at the end of the first.
Uryga got his team on the board 3:39 into the 2nd burying a rebound on Peterson to cut the Terriers lead in half. Less than two minutes later Buchholz notched his 7th of the season on the powerplay to restore Portage’s two goal lead.
Sudom and Tripp on the powerplay each picked up goals for the Stampeders to tie things up at 3 after forty minutes of play.
There was an intensity to the third period each team looking for the go ahead goal that didn’t come until 15:29 in, Townsend potting a rebound in front.
Portage’s Murray seemingly tied the game with 2:43 left in the frame, but the goal was disallowed as Pipes pushed the net off. Pipes was assessed a delay of game, but the Portage coaching staff was upset with the call. The Swan Valley net minder had bumped the net off over half a dozen times this game.
Down a man, Swan was assessed another minor giving the Terriers a 5 on 3, then a 6 on 3 opportunity when Peterson headed to the bench, but they were unable to find the equalizer.
Overall the Terriers had a good game and will be back at it tomorrow when they face the Dauphin Kings at 4:00pm.
Peterson earns the loss facing forty shots total and Portage went just 1/7 on the powerplay.