The Oil Capitals put up a valiant effort Sunday night in front of a boisterous crowd of 1401 fans at the Tundra, but unfortunately couldn’t get the bounces in a 5-2 loss to the Terriers in game 2.
For the second game in a row Portage got on the board early as Lane Taylor, on a nice set up from Kolten Shindle and Ocean Wiesblatt, put the visiting team up 1-0. Not to be outdone, Hunter Cloutier tied the game up a few minutes later on the power play, putting in a rebound on a “goal mouth” scramble. Joey Moffatt would get his third of the playoffs with less than five minutes remaining, putting the Terriers up 2-1 going into the 1st intermission.
Portage would add two more in the second; first Ty Barnstable would get his 1st of the playoffs on the power play, which would be the eventual game winner. Cody Thompson then added an insurance marker for Portage, on an unlucky goal; goaltender, Riley Wallace was having difficulties getting to his “feet” after the play left their end, Thompson shot to the net and Wallace couldn’t get set for the shot. AP, Brock Moroz would enter the game at this point, replacing starting goaltender, Riley Wallace.
The Oil Capitals forced the issue in the 3rd, as Blake Sidoni would get his 1st of the playoffs with Cloutier and Kanaski getting the helpers on the power play goal. Unfortunately that would be as close as team could get as Portage would add an empty netter to make the final score 5-2.
Oil Capitals captain, Ben Dalke, had this to say about the 5-2 loss; “Was a good effort, but didn’t get the bounces we needed. We executed some things well, but need to figure out some little things. Need to chip pucks better and get pucks over the blue line deep. We will be ready for game 3, we have a group in here that knows what needs to be done in game 3.”
Oil Caps Tid Bits: Forward, Tanner Andrew, sat out and is day to day. Goaltender, Dalton Dosch, is day to day with LBI. Austin Johnston is week to week with UBI. Jake Poole, Blake Jacques, and Bray Rookes are all practicing with the team. Goaltender, Riley Wallace, will be re-examined today.
Playoff Tickets:
Playoff tickets are available at the Oil Capitals Office, The Valleyview Co-op C-Store and Virden Sport & Fashion!
Adult: $15
Senior: $13
Youth: $8