A tight back and forth affair ended with a 5-4 Terrier win in overtime against the visiting Winnipeg Blues.
The game’s start was delayed after a pane of glass was broken during the warmup, as Adam Belzil shattered it with three minutes and change remaining of pre-game ice time. Before the game Edward Knittig was named the Fehr Auto & Ag Terrier of the month for February. He had 7 goals and 2 assists in 12 games.
A little over half way through the first period, Portage’s Breck Hirrschoff notched his 11th goal of the season. Trevor Hill would hold the zone and make a pass to a wide-open Hirrschoff, who’s initial shot bounced into the air, and Hirrschoff batted it home. The Blues would even things up near the end of the frame, to make it 1-1 after 20 minutes.
The scoring ratcheted up in the second period, as five goals were scored, three of them in the last five minutes.
Owen Witt would open the scoring, but the Blues would notch a pair of goals in short order to make it 3-2.
But 21 seconds later, the league leader in goals knotted the game up again, as Trevor Hill put a puck to the side of the goal with his feet below the goal line, and it went in, for his 40th goal of the year.
Hill notes that his achievement is as much about the team as it is about his work.
“Obviously, it’s a cool feeling that I’ve been able to produce and help the team win. But that also shows how well my teammates have been helping me, feeding me the puck, giving me the opportunity to get to 40.”
Jonah Lemoine netted one on a late rush to put the Terriers back in front by a 4-3 score, where the period would end. Portage outshot Winnipeg 34-12 through the first 40 minutes.
A mid-third period goal by the Blues saw the game tied with great chances each way before the end of the frame, but neither team was able to crack the scoreboard.
Extra time was all Terriers for the 59 seconds of play, which saw Portage’s Edward Knittig net the extra time winner for his 15th goal of the season.
The win was also Donovan Bodnar’s 10th of the season, which put him atop the team leaders.
After the game, Adam Belzil gave his thoughts on being back in the lineup after missing two months of action.
“It feels good, coming back with all the guys, and some new guys too, so it’s good to be getting ready for playoffs.”
The two teams will face off again over the weekend, with a Saturday night game in Winnipeg.
