Portage extended their life in the South Eastern Manitoba Hockey League playoffs by at least a game with last night's 4-2 win over Carman at Stride Place. The Islanders trail the Beavers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.

"We've played hard in every game this series," says Anders Strome, Islanders Captain. "We've won three-in-a-row this year so we have to do it again. We're one step closer to (coming back)."

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead early in the in the first thanks to Jason Rose's even strength marker. Dustin Bruyere and Troy O'Brien scored assists on the goal at 2:12 of the first. Both teams had a couple of chances on the powerplay through the middle of the period but neither could find the back of the net with the extra man. Jordyn Boyd would tie the game 1-1 with 1:26 to go. Eric DeLong and Tyler Moore notched assists on Boyd's goal.

Portage took a 2-1 lead 2:50 into the second. Dan Leslie scored an unassisted goal. Tanner Waldvogel scored to make it 3-1 with two minutes to go in the period, it would stand as the game-winner. Leslie and Tyler Harland were awarded the assists.

The Beavers managed to cut the lead to one after a back-and-forth first 10-minutes of the third period. Jesse Livingston scored on the powerplay to make it 3-2, Bruyere picked up his second assist of the night, Mitch O'Brien scored the secondary assist on the play. Carman pulled their goalie near the two-minute mark and Kyle Lopez sent one into the empty net from the neutral zone to lock it up at 4-2 for Portage. 

Carman took Game 1 of the series in Portage, setting up another do-or-die situation in Carman for the Islanders in Game 6.

"It's always tough losing in overtime," says Strome. "That's why it's a series, and seven games is a long series. We just wanted to refocus because we know we can play with them, we've been in every game battling and just the bounces didn't go our way a couple of games, but we're looking forward to the next one in their rink. Hopefully, force a Game 7 in Portage."

The Islanders are in Carman for Game 6 Thursday.