A late surge couldn’t get the Terriers back into Game 4, falling 3-1 to the Winkler Flyers. Portage had a hard time generating offence and ended the game getting outshot 34-22.
The Terriers started the game slowly by taking a pair of back to back penalties. After killing them off, they weren’t able to capitalize when they got power plays of their own in the second half of the first period. Winkler got on the board off a turnover in the Terrier end and Jakob Jones fired it past Gavin Renwick to make it 1-0 Flyers.
Winkler continued to apply pressure in the second period. Noah Diemer caught Renwick out of his net playing the puck and Avery Anderson tipped it into the open net. 2-0 Winkler. Two minutes later the Flyers increased their lead with a power play goal from Mike Svenson. The Terriers were outshot in the second 9-4. 3-0 Winkler after two.
The Dogs wouldn’t give up and got on the board early in the third period. Slade Stanick was sprung on a partial break and snuck one through Malachi Klassen on the power play. It was too little, too late. Winkler played a tight defensive game the rest of the way and came away with the win to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Game 5 in Winkler will be on Saturday at 7 p.m. A loss will see the Terrier’s season end, and a win will mean Game 6 in Portage on Monday night.