The Portage Terriers picked up a 4-3 win on Saturday night against the Winnipeg Freeze. It’s the Terriers’ 5th win of the season and second against the Freeze.
The first period started with a bang as Winnipeg opened the scoring in the first two minutes . A Cody Gibbs point shot found its way past a screened Chris Fines. On the Terriers second power play of the night they were able to tie the game. Captain Logan Calder scored a short side backhand over the shoulder of Keegan Gordon close to the net. Midway through the period the Terriers thought they had taken their first lead of the night but Brenden Holba’s wrap around never crossed the line.
Portage did take the lead early in the second. Daron Cyr started a tic tac toe passing play off the rush and it was finished by Thomas Kaufield who was driving to the net. The lead wouldn’t last long as seconds later Nathan Driver finished off a beautiful cross ice pass and put it up and over Chris Fines to tie the game at two. Penalties continued to come for both teams; there were a total of 12 minor penalties in the first two periods. With less than eight minutes to go Chris Fines stretched out and stopped Rylan Ringor on a clear breakaway to keep it tied.
The Terriers made a series of trades earlier in the week and the two newcomers Nathan Flodell and Kyle Grysiuk made it into the lineup. Flodell picked up an assist early in the third when he passed to Daniel Siso in the slot and he beat Gordon high glove side. The Freeze responded three minutes later with Zach Ashworth scoring on a goal mouth scramble. On the power play Siso walked out from the corner and snapped a shot past Gordon for his second goal of the night. He now has four goals in his last two games against the Freeze.
Winnipeg pulled their goalie as the clock ticked down to the final seconds but they were unable to beat Fines. Portage finished the game 2/7 on the power play and were outshot 38-32. Portage will play a make up game against the Freeze on Dec. 8 at 7:30pm at Stride Place. The Terriers now get set for the MJHL Showcase in Portage next week. They will play the OCN Blizzard Monday at 4:30 pm and Neepawa Wednesday morning at 10:30 am.
For the complete box score CLICK HERE.