The Portage Terriers had their "Hockey Fights Cancer Night" spoiled by the Steinbach Pistons who beat them 2-1 tonight.

While money was still raised for Central Plains Cancer Services, which is the main goal, the dogs hoped to cap it all off with a win for the home crowd. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Halfway through the first period, Zach Purcell took a shot on net that hit a stick and took a very weird bounce just over the shoulder of goaltender Cole Johnston, this put the Pistons in front 1-0.

Just two minutes later, Steinbach was looking to extend their lead. They were on the power-play and just as it expired they had a wide-open cage, took a shot off a one-timer but Johnston slid across to make an unreal pad save. This kept it a one-goal game heading into the second.

Five minutes into the period, during 4-on-4 play, Purcell brought the puck in a dropped it off for Codey Behun who sniped it high blocker side to put the Pistons up 2-0.

A couple of minutes later, the Terriers were on the power-play, Owen Murray held the puck at the blue-line and passed it down low to Riley Bruce. Bruce took a quick shot on net which was stopped but Logan Christensen was there to put the rebound home getting the dogs on the board.

On to the last minute of play, where things got hectic. Joey Moffatt took a clean shot on net that was saved but the puck took a high bounce and Bruce batted the puck out of the air and it went just over the crossbar.

About 30 seconds later, with the goalie pulled and on a power-play, Kolton Shindle had the puck put on a platter for him on the left side of the net. It looked to just need a tap into the net but somehow Matt Lenz, the Pistons goalie, got across to make the game-saving stop.

The Terriers' latest addition forward Lach Hadley talks about the play Steinbach got from Lenz.

"It's one of those things, everyone's going to have a (great) night eventually," says Lach. "There's not much you can do other than get ready for the next one and bury those next time."

Team captain Sam Huston describes what it felt like having so many scoring chances but none of them finding their way into the net.

"It sucks. It straight-up sucks," says Huston. "It's going to keep us hungry though and it's going to keep us wanting more. We have got a lot of building to do here and this is a learning situation. So, it's going to keep us hungry."

The dogs will have a quick turn around as they host the Dauphin Kings on Sunday, October 27th at 6:30.