The Portage Terriers kept their playoff hopes alive blowing out the Winnipeg Blues 9-1 Thursday night at the Bell MTS Iceplex.
The Terriers opened the first period like a team that knew their season hung in the balance. After some early pressure Austin Peters threw the puck in front of the net and it tipped off a defenders stick past Winnipeg goalie Dawson Green. Matt Wisener then had a seeing eye point shot that made its way through traffic in front of the net. 2-0 Portage after 1.
The Terriers had a line made up of three 16-year-olds, Brandon Funk and “AP” call ups Hayden Chaloner and Daniel Tokariwski. They got some early chances using their speed and in the second period they found the scoreboard. Chaloner was sprung on a clean breakaway and out waited Green to score blocker side for his first as a Terrier. The game started to open up and the goals kept coming for Portage. Ryan Botterill scored low blocker side on a partial breakaway. Funk then cleaned up a rebound off the rush. 5-0 Portage.
After the fifth goal Green’s night was done. He stopped 10 of 15 shots he faced. The Terriers kept up the pressure and Slade Stanick put one just under the crossbar on the power play. 6-0 Terriers after 2.
The Blues showed some life early in the third period scoring in the first five minutes. Portage regained control and finished it off with three more goals. Ryan Botterill cleaned up his own rebound on a shorthanded breakaway. Slade Stanick finished off a nice passing play on the power play for his second of the night. Daron Cyr had a Hayden Lacquette point shot bounce off his arm and in to make the game 9-1.
Jayden Catellier played well in goal for Portage stopping 24 of 25. The Terriers are now one point out of the final playoff spot in the East with only one game remaining. The Terriers need to beat the Virden Oil Capitals on Saturday night at Stride Place to make the playoffs.