The Portage Islanders are coming home to Portage la Prairie for at least one more time this hockey season.

They forced Game 7 with a 7-3 win over the Beavers in Game 6 of the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League Semi-final last night in Carman. It was Portage's first victory over the Beavers in Carman this season, something they haven't done since Game 2 of last year's Semi-final on February 2017, 2016. They'll be heading back to Portage la Prairie for the final game Saturday.

"It was nice to see us respond with a good effort again," says Eric DeLong. "Getting an early start on them really helped. We're a momentum team and that really kind of let us loosen up and let us play our game even more. We haven't scored a lot of goals this series, especially in this rink, so I think scoring those four quick ones let us take a deep breathe so we could keep going with our game."

Portage exploded out of the gate to score four goals in the first 10 minutes of the hockey game. Anders Strome, Colin Talbot, Tanner Waldvogel and Eric DeLong all scored for the Islanders in the first. Strome finished the game with a goal and three assists.

Tanner Waldvogel left the game for a short time to receive some stitches. "Yeah I could still skate so I figured I'm here I might as well keep playing. My ride was still here too so I didn't really have much of a choice," he laughs. "I think we had a little more jump at the start of the game and we definitely got a couple of bounces our way and we capitalized on them. It just kind of snowballed from there."

The Islanders got out to a 6-0 lead in the second period before the Beavers could register their first goal of the night. DeLong netted his second for the Islanders, Jordyn Boyd scored to make it 6-0. Brock Vanderveen and Ryan Leonzio scored for Carman toward the end of the frame.

Both teams added a goal in a physical third period. The Islanders made it 7-2 eight minutes in, this time is was Tyler Moore. Portage's Andrew Moar dropped the mitts with Beaver Troy O'Brien shortly after the goal, both were ejected after. Scott Sisson scored a late goal to make it 7-3.

Game 7 is Saturday at Stride Place. Puck drop is 4:30 p.m.