Portage Terriers have Steinbach Pistons on the back foot

If history or this year’s standings are anything to go off of, the winner of the first round Manitoba Junior Hockey League series between the Portage Terriers and Steinbach Pistons should advance to the league final.

Not only are the two teams the second and third highest ranked teams in the MJHL’s overall standings, the last league final to take place without at least one of those franchises was in 2014. With both playing in the East Division and finishing below top-seeded Winkler, they are matched up in the first round of the playoffs and as expected it’s been a tight battle through three games.

The Terriers hold a 2-1 advantage, thanks to a strong performance in Steinbach in game 3. The Terriers were stifling, holding the Pistons to just seven shots on net through 40 minutes. The Pistons could only generate a measly 16 shots in the game.

A big reason for that was the lopsided penalty count. Steinbach was whistled for eight minor penalties leading to powerplays, while Portage only had to kill a single penalty.

Those powerplays came with a cost, as Nolan Nenow struck early in the first and third periods with the man advantage to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Both goals came with Nenow parked right in front of Christian Green and getting a tip to a point shot, managing to bang home the rebound in the first period and directly tipping in the puck into the net in the third.

Portage has scored first in all three games of the series so far.

Mitchell Kathler was spectacular. While he didn’t have much work to do with his defensemen and forwards blocking shots left and right, Kathler made the save of the playoffs, absolutely robbing a Steinbach player in the second period.

Kathler looked like a shortstop diving out to stop a hard hit grounder, after a puck trickled to the side of the crease, managing to get a glove on a shot while fully laid out.

Jamie Fuchs gave a life to the home fans when he scored with 11 minutes to go in the third period, but Dawson Madden ended any comeback hopes just 90 seconds later when he scored Portage’s third goal of the game.

Captain Noah Szabo was wearing a full face shield in the game after taking a knock in game two.

Game four goes in Portage March 28, with the Pistons set to host game five the next day at the Southeast Event Centre. If a game seven is needed, it will also be in Steinbach, taking place April 2.

GAME 1

It was a banner night in Steinbach March 21, as the Pistons hosted their first playoff game at the brand new Southeast Event Centre, coming away with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory.

Both teams generated plenty of chances in first period, despite Steinbach needing to kill three penalties, but it was Portage who drew first blood late in the frame. A centring pass attempt bounced off Decker Mujcin as he was tangled with a Steinbach defender, bouncing over Green’s pad to open the scoring in the series.

Pistons players protested the goal, arguing Mujcin interfered with Green, but referees disagreed, awarding the goal.

Steinbach responded by dominating the second period, but couldn’t get on the board, holding the Terriers to just two shots in 20 minutes of play. Brett Kaiser appeared to tie the game with 30 seconds to go but with bodies piling into the Portage crease, referees whistled the play dead before the puck crossed the line.

Head coach Paul Dyck’s decision to put Connor Paronuzzi, Sam Zagari and Ty Paisley together to form a new first line for the playoffs paid off in the third period, with the line generating all three goals.

Paronuzzi kicked off the rally, somehow managing to corral and pot home a rebound after a Spencer Penner point shot in nearly one motion on the backhand to tie the game.

Paisley, who has been a point-scoring machine since the Pistons returned to Steinbach, nabbed the game-winner just 90 seconds after Paronuzzi scored. It came on the powerplay after Cameron Bullinger sent the puck straight over the glass for a delay of game penalty.

Paronuzzi set up Paisley’s goal beautifully, entering the zone and using the threat of a wide drive to soften up the defense, dropping the puck to a cutting Paisley in the slot who had all kinds of space to let loose a shot which beat rookie of the year Mitchell Kathler blocker side.

GAME 2

The series shifted to Portage March 23 with the Terriers able to survive and even the series with a 3-2 win.

The Terriers took a 3-1 lead just 30 seconds into the third period as Parker Scherr made a great off-puck cut to get all alone in front of the net. Steinbach once again dominated the last 40 minutes of the game, out-shooting the Terriers 26-14 in that time, but Brayden Berg was the only player who was able to beat Kathler in that time, tipping a point shot home late in the second.

There was an extended break mid-way through the second period after a point shot hit Sully Ross in the face, causing him to bleed on the ice surface. Ross was back in action in game three, but the trail of blood he left when he skated off the ice forced the ice resurfacer to come out for a couple passes over the trail.

Steinbach’s best chance at tying the game came early in the first period, as they jammed away at rebounds throughout a shift. Kathler stood tall, battling to keep positioning.

Portage was brilliant in the final ten minutes, creating more chances to extend their lead despite the Pistons’ pushing for an equalizer.

Mujcin got the scoring started in game two as well, causing a turnover and rushing up the ice while short-handed and slipping the puck past Green’s glove side.