A quick start propelled the Portage Terriers past the Virden Oil Capitals 4-2 on Sunday night. Special teams was a big factor throughout the evening with Portage going 2/7 on the power play.
Alyandro De Leon started the game off with a bang for the Terriers. Less than three minutes into the game he picked off a pass at the Virden blue line, walked down the slot and beat Oil Capital goalie Eric Reid. Midway through the period Gabriel Laflamme knocked home a rebound on the power play to make it 2-0 Portage.
The second period started like the first, with an early Terrier goal. Adler Johnston tipped a point shot with the man advantage to make it 3-0 Portage. Just when it looked like the Terriers were going to run away with the game the Oil Capitals started to push back. Ethan Guthrie scored midway through the period, and then six minutes later Evan Groening blasted home a shot on the power play. 3-2 Portage after 2.
The game remained close in the third period. With five minutes left De Leon wrapped a puck around the net to give the Terriers a two goal lead. Portage goalie Jayden Catellier then made a huge save on a Luke Robson breakaway to keep his team ahead. He would shut the door the rest of the way stopping 38 shots for the win.
Portage now has 4 games left to close out the regular season. They visit Dauphin on Tuesday in a makeup game from earlier this year. After tonight the Terriers have officially clinched third place and will play the Winkler Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.