The Portage Terriers picked up a 7-3 win last night over the visiting Winkler Flyers in their final meeting of the season. The fans came to the rink last night expecting a close low scoring game, but instead witnessed a lopsided offensive affair. Scoring came easy to both teams in the first period as Portage scored two quick goals before many fans had even found their seat.

Chase Brakel scored first off the rush with Jeremey Leipsic, and Brad Bowles put one home on the power play a minute later. Winkler would prove resilient as Scott Gall fired one top shelf, and Zak Hicks scored off a faceoff to tie the game all within the first 8 minutes. Brayden MacDonald found the back of the net with 4 minutes to go in the first, but Tristan Keck would tie the game for Winkler in the final minute.

3-3 is as close as Winkler would get as Portage started to run away with it in the second period. Brad Bowles one-timed his second of the night from the slot, and Brandon Stanley slid a backhand shot underneath Connor Slipp. Portage started the third period on the power play and were given a 5 on 3 advantage when Connor Hamonic was sent to the box for a blow to the head of Brad Bowles. As the first penalty was expiring, Chase Brakel scored his second of the night to make it 6-3. Brandon Stanley found himself alone in front of the net 2 minutes later and beat Slipp fivehole. That would be it for the Winkler goaltender as Nathan Warren took his spot in the crease.

Seconds before Brakel's first goal

With 4 goals seperating them the play started to heat up as a minute later Ryan Sokoloski and Dionne Demko fought at centre ice. 5 minutes later Cody Lightfoot dropped the mitts with Zak Hicks. Near the end of the third Adam Wowryk threw a huge hipcheck which caused a multiple fight situation involving Wowryk, Stanley and Riley Thiessen for Portage and Kurt Sonne, Braden Billaney, and Nathan Karlowsky from Winkler. For Brandon Stanley, it completed the Gordie Howe Hattrick (goal, assist, fight). Terrier captain Brad Bowles says fighting can boost the team.

"I think the most part it fires people up. A lot of people left the game, so more people played a lot more after that. For the most part though it fires people up and gets them going."

After letting in 3 goals on 9 shots in the first period, Nathan Park held down the fort for Portage and picked up the win. He made 13 saves on 16 shots. The Terriers are back in action on Wednesday when they host the Swan Valley Stampeders.

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