A tight game with a tough ending saw the Portage Terriers beat the Winnipeg Blues last night 5-3.

The Terriers opened the scoring early in the first period as Chase Brakel walked out from the corner and wrapped it home around the outstretched Winnipeg goalie. The Winnipeg Blues would never allow the Terriers to get too far ahead as they tied it up on the power play with a point shot that beat Nathan Park under the arm. Ryan Sokoloski then picked up a broken play, walked through a defender and deked past their goalie Jacob Gnidzeijko. Once again Winnipeg responded with Ryan Mutch sniping one home on a two on one.

Terriers' forward Keaton Leininger celebrates his game winning goal

In the second period penalties started to play a factor with Matt Leblanc getting a 5 minute major for the Blues. The Terriers scored on a later power play with the big man Michael Knaub tipping home a point shot. The Blues just wouldn't go away as 2 minutes later Joel Macgillivary banged home a pass from the corner to tie it at 3.

It was a physical third period with both teams getting chances when Keaton Leininger stole the puck from a Blues defenceman and scored on a partial breakaway sliding it five-hole. With less than three minutes to go it was a scary moment at the MTS Iceplex as Braden Pettinger went awkwardly into the boards and had to be stretchered off the ice. Once the play resumed Brad Bowles scored on the empty net to put the game out of reach.

 

Portage Terriers defenseman Dean Stewart gives his thought's on the win.

"Pretty good, but I mean it would have been nice if we could've stayed out of the box a little bit. We knew coming in they have a good powerplay, but other than that the boys battled hard. Even after Pettinger was injured, I think we had a good comeback after that too."

The Terriers are back on the ice Saturday at the PCU Centre against the Neepawa Natives.