The Portage Terriers are looking for revenge tonight as they travel to Niverville for Game 4 against the Nighthawks.
The Dogs dropped Game 3 at home on Tuesday but still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Terrier assistant captain Daniel Siso says you have to be prepared for a few losses in the playoffs.
"It's a process. We know we're not going to win every game," Siso explains. "It's about knowing how to lose and how to regroup and recover from that."
Special teams will be the biggest area of concern for Portage in Game 4. So far this series, Niverville has scored five power-play goals and has the best extra-man unit in the MJHL this postseason (converting 41.6 per cent of their power-play opportunities).
Siso says the best way to counteract this is to just take fewer penalties.
The Terriers' offence has been very effective through three games. Ryan Botterill is tied for the league lead in points with seven, and Austin Peters sits one back at six points. Mike Stubbs has scored over a goal per game, with four in three games, tying him for the MJHL lead.
Portage out-shot the Nighthawks 42-32 in Game 3 but Chris Fines had another impressive performance. The former Terrier goaltender has made nearly 90 saves in the two games in Portage, showing his comfort at Stride Place. Fines played a total of 24 games in a Terrier uniform, splitting time with Jayden Catellier last year before he was injured.
Niverville has scored the first goal in all three contests to this point, and Siso says they can't allow that to happen again.
"We definitely need to start better. In the first three games, we let them take it to us. We need to start the game better, take it to them, and show what we're all about."
Game 4 takes place tonight in Niverville, with the series returning to Portage for Game 5 tomorrow night.