The MJHL Quarter-Finals heated up as the Portage Terriers edged out the Steinbach Pistons 4-3 in a thrilling double-overtime win in front of 1,013 at Stride Place, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Key Highlights
First Period
A tight opening period gave the fans a taste of the high stakes with no scoring from either side. Both teams battled hard, and early penalties, including interference and charging infractions by Portage, highlighted the game’s physicality.
Second Period
The Pistons struck first with Brett Kaiser scoring early at 4:04, assisted by Noah Szabo. Connor Paronuzzi extended the Pistons’ lead late in the period, netting a goal at 17:17, with help from Sam Zagari and Grady Hoffman.
Portage responded just a minute later when Kyan Grouette cut the deficit at 18:18, assisted by Dawson Madden. The Terriers trailed 2-1 entering the third.
Third Period
The Terriers brought momentum into the third, where they quickly tied it up with a power-play goal by Tristan Gravenor at just 0:57, assisted by Grant Dardis and Cameron Bullinger. They took the lead shortly after, when William McKay scored at 7:18, assisted by Adam Belzil and Nolan Nenow.
The Pistons weren’t done yet. Mathis Laplante equalized the game at 9:08 with an essential assist from Reece Gault, setting the stage for overtime.
Overtime
The first overtime period saw no scoring but featured intense back-and-forth action and minor penalties on both sides, including cross-checking and holding penalties occurring simultaneously.
Finally, in the second overtime at 9:32, Portage sealed the deal. Scott Cousins delivered the game-winning goal just outside the blue ice, assisted by Caleb Lepitre, sending the Terriers fans into a frenzy.
Notable Player Performances
- Portage Terriers:
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- Scott Cousins: Delivered the game-winning goal in double OT.
- William McKay: Contributed a crucial third-period goal.
- Mitchell Kathler: Put on an outstanding performance in net, saving 35 of 38 shots.
- Steinbach Pistons:
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- Brett Kaiser: Opened the scoring with his first of the post-season.
- Mathis Laplante: Delivered a clutch third-period equalizer.
Stat Breakdown
- Shots on Goal
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- Steinbach Pistons: 38 (9-12-10-1-6)
- Portage Terriers: 30 (6-6-10-3-5)
- Power Plays
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- Pistons: 0/6
- Terriers: 1/2
This nail-biter win moves the Portage Terriers one step closer to the MJHL Semi-Finals, while the Steinbach Pistons face elimination in Game 5. Don’t miss what promises to be another thrilling showdown on Saturday, March 29th, at 7:00 pm at the Southeast Events Centre. Purchase tickets at tickets.steinbachpistons.ca