The Portage Terriers (41-14-2) played the (23-28-5) Selkirk Steelers Sunday night and came away with a convincing 5-1 win.

The Terriers tallied the first goal 1:03 into the first period after a scramble in front of the net would leave Jacob Piller to tuck home the wrap around. Joey Moffatt and Mack Belinski chipped in on the play to get the assists.

The Dogs picked up the scoring in the second when Parker Malchuk would feed Tyler Van Deynze for his first of the night, 1:01 into the second period.

The Terriers continued to run away with the game after finding themselves deep in the Steelers' zone. Peyton Gorski fed the puck low to Logan Calder and would connect to make it 3-0 Terriers.

Van Deynze and Calder each got one more goal in the second to give the Dog's a 5-0 lead.

Former Terrier Sheldin Howard disrupted Noah Giesbrecht's shutout campaign by potting the lone goal in the third for the Steelers.

It was a quiet night on special teams for the Dogs. They'd go 0-for-3 on the powerplay, but were able to kill two penalties.

"The boys played hard for almost a full 60 minutes," says Van Daynze. "We're just trying to build towards playoffs, and I think this is a step in the right direction."

Giesbrecht would stop 18 out of 19 shots for Portage. This win puts them within four points for the first place spot currently occupied by the Steinbach Pistons. The Terriers have a game in hand.

VanDeynze walks us through his two goals.

"We got the puck on the half-wall, and I just tried to find a soft spot there, and he (Malchuk) made a really nice pass to me. I shot, and luckily it went in," says Van Deynze. "Goal number two: Shins (Shindle) got a loose puck and popped it out to me, and I actually went to shoot, but I fumbled it a little bit. There was no shooting lane, so I came around, and once I knew the goalie came out pretty far and bit hard, I knew I'd be able to come around the net and score."

The Dogs have a few days rest but will travel down Highway 16 on Wednesday for a clash with the (13-40-1) Neepawa Natives.