A hot start and solid goaltending lifted the Portage Terriers over the Dauphin Kings 3-0 Friday night at Dauphin Credit Union Place. It was the fourth win in a row for a Terrier squad trying to track down the top teams in the standings. Portage is two points out of third, and four back of first.

The Terriers jumped on Dauphin early, outshooting them 21-4 in the first. Brennan Kitchen made some big saves for the Kings but couldn’t stop everything. Cody Thompson took a drop pass off the rush from Chase Brakel and fired the opening goal low glove side. Six minutes later Portage found the scoresheet again. Ty Barnstable fed James McIsaac a beautiful cross-ice pass on the power play that he one-timed into the net.

The scoring continued for Portage in the second. Brakel hit Jacob Brown on a two on one and he lifted it up and over a sprawling Kitchen.

With a comfortable lead after a dominant start, the Terriers let off the gas as the game went along. The Kings started to mount some pressure in the third period but Brendan Benoit was up to the task. He stopped all 29 shots he faced for his first shutout as a Terrier.

Portage has a rematch with Steinbach on Sunday night at Stride Place. It’s the annual teddy bear toss night for the Salvation Army. You are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal to throw on the ice when the Terriers score their first goal. Puck drop is at 6:30 pm.

For the complete box score CLICK HERE.