Three goals against in the first period proved to be too big of a hole to climb out of as the Steinbach Pistons lost to the Portage Terriers 4-2 Saturday night.
Steinbach came out flat and the Terriers used it to their advantage, pushing the pace and keeping Steinbach from getting any positive momentum.
It looked as though Steinbach would have a chance to open the scoring on a power play but instead, it was Portage scoring short-handed, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
The Terriers would add to that lead with a power play goal and an even strength marker, taking a 3-0 lead into the intermission.
Brody Green managed to get Steinbach a little closer in the second period as he wired home a power play goal to cut the lead to 3-1. Shane Burns and Reece Gault had the assists.
On another power play later in the frame, Steinbach’s Noah Szabo teed one up from the top of the circle, his shot went high and managed to break a pane of glass behind the Terrier goal.
The teams were sent off while the cleanup took place, meaning the clubs would resume with the time remaining in the second, break with no flood, then play the third period.
After the unexpected break, Steinbach earned a 5 on 3 advantage which they used to make it 3-2.
Brett Kaiser took a feed at the side of the goal from Szabo and snapped home his 2nd of the season. Jackson Kostiuk picked up the secondary helper.
In the third, Steinbach threw a bunch of pucks toward the goal but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Portage would add another to put the game away, 4-2 the final.
Christian Green was handed the loss, finishing the night with 23 saves.
Steinbach’s power play finished 2-8 while the penalty kill was 4-6.
Next up, the Pistons travel to Niverville to take on the rival Nighthawks Wednesday night.