Portage came from behind in both games to pick up back to back wins and their first points of 2018.
The first 40 minutes of Friday’s game proved tough for the defending champs with the bounces not going their way and they subsequently trailed 3-0.
Cole Oliver scored the first of the new year for the dogs finishing off a pass from James McIsaac with a one timer on the powerplay. It was all Terriers from there as they went on to score 3 more in the final frame, McIsaac, Pierce and Enns with his first of the season for a 4-3 final.
Aiken recorded the win making 21 saves in his first game back from injury. The win is the first for the Terriers against the Blizzard this season.
___________________________________________________________________________
Back at it on Saturday, Petersen got the nod in net for game 2.
Once again the Terriers found themselves down early. Bruce and Dale scored for OCN before Captain Chase Brakel netted a rebound to finish the first frame down one.
OCN’s Bruce scored his second of the game to put the Blizzard up 2 less than a minute in to the second. Scott Mickoski sauced a beautiful pass to rookie Joey Moffatt to put him on the breakaway to score before potting his own for the tieing marker. An unfortunate bobble from Lasse Petersen led to Liwiski finding the back of the net and OCN back on top to start the third.
In a repeat of the night before the Terriers dominated the finally 20. Brakel scored his second of the game burying a Leipsic drop pass and Enns cleaned up the puck in the slot for the game winner for the 2nd straight night. Ripplinger and Billaney scored empty netters for a 7-4 final.
Petersen with 27 saves for the win and the Terriers sit alone in 2nd 3 points ahead of the third place Oil Caps.
Portage is back in action this Tuesday as they head to Virden looking for their first win of the season against the Oil Capitals.