The Steinbach Pistons got off to a slow start and it proved costly as the Portage Terriers held on to an eventual 3-2 win to even the best of seven quarter-final at 1-1.
In the opening minutes of the game, Connor Paronuzzi was sprung on a clear-cut breakaway and while the 19-year-old made an incredible move, the puck hit off the Terrier goaltenders skate blade and stayed out on what could have been a tone-setting play.
Instead, it boosted the home side.
After that chance, the Pistons were put on their heels as the Terriers used their speed to generate chances and forced Steinbach to chase them around the ice.
A power play for Steinbach looked as though it would give them the opportunity to open the scoring but a strong pressure from the shorthanded unit of Portage forced a turnover at their blueline and that turned into a shorthanded breakaway goal to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Mathis Laplante responded for Steinbach a few minutes later as the rookie busted into the zone, walked around the defender and while his original shot was stopped, he stuck with the plan and knocked home the rebound to tie the game 1-1. Brett Kaiser and Noah Szabo had the assists.
Portage regained the lead as a defensive breakdown caught the Pistons puck-watching and the Terriers cashed in to make it a 2-1 game.
Early in the second, they would make it 3-1 while the teams were playing four-on-four.
Most of the second was played with Steinbach in possession of the puck and dictating play, almost a complete reverse of the first period, showing that when the Pistons use their speed, they're a hard team to keep up with.
Brayden Berg would get Steinbach to within one but it was thanks in large part to the plays before the 19-year-old celebrated his goal.
The play started with Zhenya Miles using his long reach to keep a puck in at the blueline, keeping the Terriers from rushing up the ice. Because Miles kept the puck in, Kaiser was able to slip into a quiet area, take the Miles pass and then fire a shot on goal. Kaiser's shot was tipped by Berg and brought the Pistons to within one.
In the opening minutes of the third, Steinbach pushed hard for the equalizer but they couldn't find the back of the net.
Much of the third was played with low entertainment as the Terriers worked the clock and nursed the one-goal lead to the finish line, evening up the series 1-1.
Christian Green was solid for the Pistons making 24 saves in the loss.
Steinbach outshot Portage 37-27 in the game. The power play had their opportunities to be difference makers but the groups failed going 0-6 while the penalty kill did their job, finishing 3-3, although the Terrier man-advantage was very dangerous.
Game three is set for Tuesday night at the Southeast Event Centre. Game four is in Portage on Friday night and game five returns to Steinbach on Saturday night.