A better effort in game four unfortunately yielded a similar result to games two and three, as Portage fell 5-3 to the Steinbach Pistons in the Turnbull Cup Quarterfinal.
Portage was on the wrong end of a pair of early goals as Steinbach opened the scoring for the first time in the series. But the Dogs didn’t take it lying down, as they responded 34 seconds after the second Pistons goal. Adam Belzil tipped a Beck Bethard wrist shot home to make it 2-1. Then, with three minutes remaining, Dylan Karran deflected a shot off his leg into the goal to knot the game at 2-2.
Steinbach would add the only goal of the second frame, just beyond half-way through the period, as Portage turned over a puck in their own zone. 3-2 Pistons after 40 minutes.
The third period merely proved more of the same, as Portage battled, but the Pistons notched another goal to make it 4-2. Edward Knittig got the Terriers to within one, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. Jackson Kostiuk put it out of reach six minutes later.
The teams will face off for Game 5 on Saturday night in Steinbach at 7pm, with Portage facing elimination.
