The Portage Islanders took advantage of a depleted Maroons roster to pick up their second win of the weekend in the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League (SEMHL). The Islanders scored seven goals in 40 minutes in their 8-3 win over Altona at the PCU Centre Sunday night.

Altona came to play in the first, only allowing one goal late in the period, but they couldn't keep pace with Portage because of a nine player bench. Jordyn Boyd scored at 15:39, it was the only goal of the period.

Portage exploded for a quick goal in the second. Captain Anders Strome scored his first of the night :19 seconds in. The Maroons scored a couple of goals to tie the game at two, but that's when their legs started to falter. "I think we were a little bit lackadaisical (when it was 2-2)," says Strome. "We kind of took them a little bit too lightly. So we just had to re-focus and try to out skate them because they were going to be tired by that point." Portage would add three goals in the final 5 minutes of the frame, one of which came with one second left on the clock. Eric Delong had one, Dan Leslie had the other two.

Portage combined for three more in the final 20 minutes. Tanner and Zack Waldvogel each scored in the third. Anders Strome notched the eighth, and his second of the night.

Portage is now 11-4-1-2 and in second place, one point ahead of third place Caman. Strome says they had a little stumble recently, but they're feeling a lot more confident now.

"We had a bit of a lull there over the holidays and into January. It was nice to get a couple of wins this weekend, tonight was a little bit of an odd game because of their short bench but we managed to get a win and that's what counts."

The Islanders are on the road Saturday when they face the Winkler Royals (16-7-9-0) in Winkler.