A poor start cost the Portage Terriers last night in MJHL action as they fell 5-1 to the visiting Steinbach Pistons. The Pistons had all of the momentum early in the game as they scored three goals in the first eight minutes. Wyatt Hinson found the back of the net 1:57 into the period when he banged home a rebound at the side of the net. Portage had a hard time exiting their own zone, and just five minutes later Tyson McConnell scored for the Pistons off a rebound at the side of the net.

The Terriers looked helpless against the Pistons attack, as Mackenzie Graham scored a minute and a half later from a shot in the mid slot. Halfway through the first period, Portage started to find their legs and the game evened out. Steinbach outshot Portage in the first, 9-4.

 "We just didn't come ready to play. We didn't have our feet under us." says Terrier forward Ty Enns. "I thought after the first period when we got going, we carried a lot of the play. We got some good quality shots, we just couldn't seem to get a bounce."

The first intermission seemed to wake up the Terriers as they came out of the dressing room on fire. Matt Radomsky kept most of the 16 Portage shots out, except for a Chase Brakel tip midway through the period. The three-goal lead would be quickly restored for the Pistons as three minutes later Ryan Carlson split the Terrier defence and beat Brock Aiken on the power play.

Portage would register chances throughout the third period, but multiple four-minute penalties hurt their chances of a comeback. Carlson would score his second of the night with the man advantage to put the game out of reach. Aiken made 25 saves in the loss. Portage is back in action on Friday night in Dauphin at 7 pm. The game will be broadcast on CFRY and Portageonline.com with the pregame show starting at 6:50 pm.

For the complete box score CLICK HERE.