The Portage Terriers held off a late push from the OCN Blizzard on Sunday night to win 3-2. The Terriers did it in style, wearing special jerseys bought by the Portage Professional Firefighters Local 1079 in support of Central Plains Cancer Services. Over $7,000 was raised for CPCS between the jersey auction and rainbow auction.
Portage came out of the gate strong scoring a pair of goals in the first period. In the first two minutes Parker Korman took a pass in the slot and beat OCN goalie Loic Morin five-hole for his team leading 16th goal of the season. Gabriel Laflamme then caused a turnover in the Blizzard zone and sprung Matthew Biros alone in front of the net and he buried his 8th of the season to make it 2-0 Portage. The Terriers outshot OCN 6-1 in the first period.
The Blizzard looked stronger in the second, but Portage was able to capitalize on the man advantage. With traffic in front, Tayem Gislason fired home a point shot for his 10th of the season. The Terriers were outshot in the period 12-6 but led 3-0 after 2.
In the third the Blizzard were finally able to break through Terrier goalie Jayden Catellier when Brett Ward’s point shot found it’s way past traffic in front of the net. Riley See then made the game exciting when he banged home a puck in front of the net to make it 3-2. That’s as close at the Blizzard would come as Catellier shut the door the rest of the way.
Portage finished the night 1/4 on the power play and were outshot 27-23. The Dogs will now head out to Waywayseecappo on Tuesday for their only road game in the month of February.
