Riding a four-game winning streak, the Terriers were hoping to head into the Christmas break with that number at 6. But it was not to be as the team lost 5-4 in overtime in Selkirk Tuesday night.
After a scoreless first period, the Terriers would build up a 3-0 lead in the first 8 minutes second frame but the Steelers would not go away. Thanks to a power-play goal with 20 seconds left in the period, it was 3-2 Terriers as the teams went into the dressing room.
Selkirk would storm out of the gates in the third and took a 4-3 lead with just over four minutes to go, but the Terriers would secure a point when Nolan Nenow scored his ninth of the year with only one second remaining on the clock. Selkirk would spoil the comeback though when Rocco La Carra put one behind Terrier netminder Gavin Renwick just over 3 minutes into the extra frame. The two teams ended up with 36 shots each with the Terriers going 0-2 with the man advantage. Selkirk was 1-3. Parker Korman led the way for Portage with a goal and two assists.
The team doesn't have much time to lick their wounds as they are right back on the ice in Niverville tonight. (Wednesday) It is their last game before the holiday break with their next match scheduled in Steinbach on January 5th. All teams in the MJHL are on a trade freeze and no deals can be made over the holiday break. With the loss, head coach Blake Spiller remains 3 wins away from breaking the record for most regular-season wins by a head coach in the history of the league.
1. Doug Stokes - 670
2. Don MacGillvray - 669
3. Blake Spiller - 668 (still active)