Terriers ride late goal blitz to force Game 7

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This article was published 17/04/2019 (1828 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Swan Valley Stampeders were minutes away from a fairy-tale ending of claiming the first Manitoba Junior Hockey League title in the franchise’s 20-year history — only for the Portage Terriers to flip the script in the final minutes.

The Terriers scored twice in the span of one minute and 40 seconds late in the third period on Thursday, and added two empty-net goals for extra measure to defeat the Stampeders 5-2 and force a deciding Game 7 in the MJHL final.

“I thought our guys stuck with things from start to finish, regardless of the score,” Terriers head coach Blake Spiller told the Free Press in a text message after the game. “We scored at key times to get momentum back. Our penalty kill was huge for us, as the power play is key for their club.”

Down 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Swan River’s Centennial Arena, the Terriers marched back with a game-tying goal from Reece Henry, who scored just as a Portage power play expired.

Henry, driving to the net, took a pass in the slot from Kolton Shindle before finding a hole just above the glove of Stampeders goalie Merek Pipes, who finished the game with 45 saves.

Chase Brakel gave the Terriers their first lead of the game moments later with what looked like a harmless shot from the point, only for the puck to deflect off the stick of a Stampeders player and over the blocker of Pipes.

Jay Buchholz scored both empty-netters, capping off a surprising turnaround for the visiting Terriers, who will host Game 7 Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Stride Place.

“We just had a couple missed assignments, gave up some momentum. They obviously got that lucky goal there, the one that bounced off our forward there at the top of the circle,” Stampeders head coach Barry Wolff said in a phone interview. “We just need to be better on some assignments, that’s all.”

Wolff added: “And that’s why you play the game, you just never know.”

Stampeders forward Bradly Goethals energized the crowd early when he opened the scoring just 3:20 into first period, notching his playoff-leading 12th goal.

Goethals drove up the right side and, using Terriers defenceman Sam Huston as a screen, wired a shot that beat Portage netminder Nathan Moore high to the glove side.

The Terriers evened the score late in the second period with a goal from 16-year-old defenceman Owen Murray, who pounced on a rebound with 12 seconds left in the frame. Henry and Reilly Funk drew the assists.

Spiller opted to put Moore in net over No. 1 goaltender Ethan Peterson, who had played in 12 of the team’s 15 playoff games heading into Thursday, in a move he said was to “give them a different look.” “Moore was real good for us in the regular season,” Spiller said.

Moorehad a 25-6 record in 31 regular-season games, posting four shutouts, but had an underwhelming .897 save percentage.

Moore allowed the second Stampeders goal just 2:20 into the third period, when Alex Uryga, who was one of the Swan Valley’s best players on the night, beat him again high glove side.

Uryga’s sixth goal of the playoffs seemed to put Swan Valley in the driver’s seat, as momentum shifted back to the home side after giving up the tying goal late in the second.

That was until the Terriers stormed back, reminding everyone why they have been the class of the MJHL in recent years.

They now have the chance to earn their fourth Turnbull Cup in the past five years.

“Swan has a veteran group,” Spiller said. “They’ll be ready to go in Game 7.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton