Terriers Rebound Over Blizzard

Home ice advantage propelled the Portage Terriers to victory last night as they beat the visiting OCN Blizzard 3-2 in game three of the best of seven MJHL final. The Terriers had their biggest crowd of the season with a reported attendance of 1399 fans.

Portage jumped out of the gate playing physical and getting chances on Brett Epp. Takato Cox scored on his first shift, 3:14 into the game. He fired a shot from the mid slot and cleaned up his rebound at the side of the net. It was the first lead in the series for Portage and it broke Epp's shutout streak at 75:51. The Terriers would continue to pour on the pressure and outshot OCN 12-5 in the first period.

Josh Martin scored shorthanded on a breakaway early in the second frame to give the Terriers a two goal lead. It would be short lived; Lantz Hiebert tied the game less than two minutes later. A point shot deflected over the shoulder of Kurtis Chapman. The Blizzard would use the momentum to tie the game with less than two minutes left in the period. George King buried his first of the series on a goal mouth scramble.

The Terriers retook their lead for the final time midway through the third period. Cox flew up the right wing and snapped home his second of the night "top shelf". Despite pulling their goalie late in the game the Blizzard were unable to score again. Chapman made 21 saves in the win.

It's a quick turnaround for both teams as game four will be played tonight at Stride Place at 7:30. The game will be broadcast on CFRY and Portageonline.com with the pregame show starting at 7:20. The Blizzard now lead the series 2-1.

For the complete box score click here.