Story courtesy portageonline.com
The Portage Terriers captured one point but were unable to come out on top tonight against the Winnipeg Blues. The Dogs fell 2-1 in a shootout, despite outshooting the Blues 43-33.
The Terriers set the tone early as Brandon Funk picked up his 11th goal of the year just four minutes into the first period. Riley Borody and Thomas Kaufield were given credit for the assists.
Portage held onto the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play, but the Blues responded in the second. Tyler Teasdale took a shot from the point on the power-play that somehow got through a load of bodies in front and beat Catellier clean, tying the game.
Past the halfway mark in the third, Ashton Fishley fired a shot toward the net that was tipped by Ryan Botterill but went off the post. The puck laid in the crease for a second, but no Terrier could get a proper whack at it. Despite a plethora of chances the rest of the way, the goaltenders would stand tall and send the game to overtime.
After a tripping penalty was assessed to Botterill, the Terriers spent the final 1:17 of overtime at a 4-on-3 disadvantage. Michael Tanchak received a pass on the doorstep and looked as though he would be ending the game, with a wide-open cage in front of him, however, Catellier got across just in time to make the miraculous pad save and push the game to a shootout.
Unfortunately for Portage, they were unable to find the back of the net in the shootout, and the Blues walked out of Stride Place with a 2-1 victory.
Terrier defenceman Tyler Dodgson says they just need to get more pucks across the red line.
“Overall, I think we played a really good game today, we just have to start burying our chances,” Dodgson explains. “We had 40-some shots there, and only one went in. So, their goalie played well, but I think we had a few more chances that we could’ve put in the net.”
Dodgson looks ahead to their next contest on Friday.
“I think we just have to regroup tomorrow,” says Dodgson. “We played a good game tonight, but we’ll reset tomorrow in practice. If we come out on Friday playing the same way that we did in the third today, we’ll be good.”
The Terriers will be welcoming the Winnipeg Freeze to town in Friday’s outing, which is set for 7:30 on home ice.
Before the game Daniel Siso was presented with the Player of the Month award for February.
