After two games in two days, the Portage Terriers are leaving Swan Valley empty handed.

Cody Ellingson recorded a hat trick as the Swan Valley Stampeders held off a furious third period rally by the Terriers, hanging on to win 6-4 in Manitoba Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at Swan River Centennial Arena.

It was Swan Valley’s second win over the Terriers in as many nights, after a 6-4 victory Friday.

Keaton Jameson, Jordan Valentino and Connor Navrot also scored for Swan Valley, which jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.

Takato Cox scored twice, while Chase Brakel and Jeremey Leipsic added goals for Portage.

The Terriers trailed 3-1 through two periods, before rallying in the third to knot the game 4-4. 

Brakel notched a power play marker just over a minute into the third to cut Swan Valley’s lead to 3-2. But Ellingson tallied his first of the night at 7:32 to restore the hosts’ two-goal lead.

Then the Terriers’ power play went to work.

Leipsic connected with the man advantage just past the midway point of the third to make it 4-3. Minutes later Cox added another power play goal to tie the game.

But Ellingson would restore Swan Valley’s lead with 3:01 left in regulation, beating Kurtis Chapman to put his team ahead 5-4. He would complete the hat trick with an empty-netter.

Connor Slipp made 33 saves in the win, while Chapman stopped 25 taking the loss. Portage outshot Swan Valley 37-30 while going 4 for 9 on the power play; Swan Valley finished 0 for 7.

UP NEXT

The Terriers (20-9-0) will look to bounce back Monday, when they play their first game of the 2016 MJHL Showcase against the Selkirk Steelers (18-9-1) on Monday at 7 p.m. at the MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg. Portage won the first two meetings between the clubs this season: 7-6 on Oct. 7 in Selkirk, and 6-1 at the PCU Centre on Oct. 8.