A slow start and a rough third period hurt the Portage Terriers on Wednesday night as they fell 6-2 to the Niverville Nighthawks.
Nighthawks forward Bryce Warkentine opened the scoring in the first five minutes of the game when he snapped a nice shot over the shoulder of Terrier goalie Ryan Velan. The goal seemed to wake up Portage and Adler Johnston cleaned up a rebound to tie the game at 1.
Niverville would take the lead again early in the second period off the stick of Luke Wagner. Decker Mujcin tied the game for Portage despite some contact with Nighthawks goalie Austin Dubinsky. As the game progressed it started to get chippy and both teams started heading to the box. Adam Vigfusson scored a tap in goal on the power play to make it 3-2 Niverville after 2.
The third period got away from the Terriers as Vigfusson scored shorthanded for his second of the night and then Hayden Wheddon scored another. A few scraps broke out but Portage couldn’t find the back of the net. Vigfusson completed the hattrick into the empty net.
Niverville has the top penalty kill in the league and it showed with Portage going 1/7 on the power play. The Terriers now get ready for a pair of home games this weekend against Dauphin and Selkirk.