With just one point separating Portage and Virden in the standings, Portage got off to a great start last night at Tundra Oil and Gas Place to pick up the 2 points.
James McIsaac scored 5:08 in to the first finishing off a Leipsic backhand dish in front. Rylee Zimmer answered for the Oil Caps a few minutes later to tie the game at one where it would remain through intermission. Terriers outshot the Oil Caps 13-8 in the first 20 minutes.
Portage took the lead in the 2nd when some great work by McIsaac to keep the puck in led to a perfect give and go from Leipsic and Sokoloski.
With Virden looking to get back in the game the Terriers killed off an early penalty in the 3rd to keep the momentum. Just over halfway through, Mackenzie Dwyer let a bullet go from the blueline that found it’s way through traffic and passed Dosch for a 2 goal cushion.
Despite pulling their goalie and calling a time-out in the last minute and a half, Portage held on to the lead and Sokoloski added an empty netter for a 4-1 Portage final.
Lasse Petersen had a solid game in net and picks up the win with 27 saves.
Both teams were 0/3 on the powerplay.
This is Portage’s first win against the Oil Caps this season and they sit 3 points ahead of them in 2nd place.
Next up for Portage is a road game to Selkirk on Saturday and then host the Winkler Flyers at Stride Place on Sunday.