Coming off their first loss of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League season, the Portage Terriers got back into the win column in dramatic fashion.

Jordan Thomson played overtime hero while recording a hat trick, as the Terriers won the first of back-to-back road games this weekend, edging the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) Blizzard 5-4 Saturday night at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre in The Pas.

Jeremey Leipsic added two goals for the Terriers, who improved to 3-1-0 this season. Kyle Wiltshire, Maverick Rafter, Brady Keeper and Travis Roch tallied for the Blizzard, who suffered their first loss after back-to-back wins over the Dauphin Kings and Waywayseecappo Wolverines to open their campaign.

The Terriers scored four of their five goals on the power play.

“Our first couple of power plays we didn't generate anything,” says Terriers head coach Blake Spiller. “After that we started getting pucks through from the point with traffic and made it tough on their goalie.”

Wesley Ellingsen started in goal for Portage, but was lifted following the first period after allowing two goals on 10 shots. Brock Aiken came on to start the second.

The Blizzard jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Wiltshire. Thomson and Leipsic scored power play markers just over two minutes apart past the midway mark of the first to put the Terriers ahead 2-1. Rafter then answered late in the first to tie the game 2-2.

Leipsic scored the lone goal of the second to put the Terriers back in front 3-2. Just over three minutes into the third period Brady Keeper struck for OCN to bring the hosts even. Shortly after Thomson tallied his second of the night to restore the Terriers' one-goal lead. But the Blizzard fought back, as Travis Roch scored with 7:50 remaining in regulation knot the game 4-4.

Aiken made 26 saves in the win, while Emiliem Boily stopped 21 taking the loss. Ellingsen made eight saves. OCN outshot Portage 38-26 while going 0 for 6 on the power play; Portage finished 4 for 7.

The Terriers (3-1-0) visit the Swan Valley Stampeders tonight in the first meeting between the two clubs this season. Swan Valley (1-2-0) has lost back-to-back games. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m.