The Portage Terriers were on the ice at Stride Place tonight. They were taking on the Steinbach Pistons for the fourth time in the month of October. Steinbach has gotten the better of the Terriers in each matchup so far this season so there was certainly some motivation on the part of Portage. Today was a special game with it being the annual Cancer Care game. Decked out in purple and white the Terriers put forth their most complete game of the season so far, picking up the 5-2 victory over the Pistons.

An intense battle along the side boards.In the first, the Terriers came out flying. They got the first goal of the game less than a minute into the period when Sheldin Howard banged the puck past Pistons' goalie Matthew Radomsky. In one of the better periods of Terrier hockey so far this season, they kept the pressure on Steinbach and wouldn't back off. Aggressive forechecking and active sticks helped break up any momentum or speed the Pistons generated. The Terriers got another when Reilly Funk fed Howard for his second of the night on a beautiful two on one down low. It would stay that way until with just under three minutes left Tanner Mole threw a bouncing puck on net. It made it past the screened Ethan Peterson who was making his Terrier debut in net. The Dogs would not be able to capitalize on a full two minute 5 on 3 to close out the period and they took a 2-1 lead into the second.

The second period would be a near continuous parade to the penalty box for the Terriers. Portage spent nearly half the frame playing down a man. However, their penalty kill would hold firm, giving up no power play goals in the second. Lane Taylor increased the lead to 3-1 with wrister from the point that beat Radomsky. Then, Howard completed the hat trick with an unassisted goal from the side of the net. The Terriers took a 4-1 lead into the final period. Howard spoke about netting the hat trick and a four-point night overall as well as his new linemates.

"I wasn't expecting it, but I guess it happened so I'm excited," says Howard. "I like playing with them. (Reilly) Funk's really fast and Reece (Henry) does all the little things right."

The Pistons would make it closer in the third starting with making a goal change. Out was Radomsky and in came Matt Lenz. Less than four minutes in, the Pistons' Brendan Westbrook would take the shot that would be tipped in front, Peterson had no chance on the shot that completely changed direction. Portage would get it back later in the period. While on the powerplay, Owen Murray snuck in backdoor from the point and fired the puck into the wide-open net. Then would come the rough stuff with Terrier Braden Billaney dropping both the gloves and his opponent, Troy Beauchemin.

The Terriers will not have much time to analyze what went right as they will suit up for a road game against the Waywayseecappo Wolverines tomorrow night. New Terrier netminder Ethan Peterson spoke about what they need to do to keep getting the wins.

"We have to start the game the way we did today," says Peterson. "First hard five (minutes), that got us our first two goals. We need to get on that goalie right away. Stick to our gameplan and keep firing away."

Puck drop for the game in Waywayseecappo tomorrow is 6:00 pm.

1st Period
0:57 PT Sheldin Howard (6) ASST: Reilly Funk (10), Reece Henry (11)
5:14 PT Sheldin Howard (7) ASST: Reilly Funk (11), Reece Henry (12)
17:14 SP Tanner Mole (9) ASST: Tyson McConnell (6)

2nd Period
14:06 PT Lane Taylor (4) ASST: Jay Buchholz (6), Logan Calder (5)
17:27 PT Sheldin Howard (8) ASST: None

3rd Period
3:56 SP Brendan Westbrook (3) ASST: Caydin Cleland (4), Marcel Berube (3)
8:56 PT Owen Murray (3) ASST: Jay Buchholz (7), Sheldin Howard (5) (PP)