The Portage Terriers evened up their season series with a 6-3 win over the Winkler Flyers on Tuesday night. The loss is the Flyers fifth in their last eight games, and despite their recent inconsistent play the Orange and Black ended the night with a share of top spot in the MJHL standings.

The first period was a good period for both clubs and both the Flyers and Terriers were rewarded with a pair of goals. Just over three and a half minutes into the game, Brody Moffatt tipped in his fifth of the season to put Winkler on the board first for just the third time in their last 11 games. Brett Opperman and CJ Corazzin drew the assists.

The Flyers lead would be short lived though, as the Terriers pulled even not even a minute later. Winkler moved back in front with 10:18 left in the first when Weiland Parrish snapped a seven game goalless drought, redirecting the puck past Terriers’ netminder Lasse Petersen for the Flyers second goal. Matt Christian and Mitch Dyck assisted on the Minnesota native’s ninth of the season. Winkler came close to adding to their lead in the first, but saw two great chances find the cross bar.

Before the end of the period, the Terriers would also score their second goal to send the game into the first intermission tied 2-2.

Winkler continued to generate chances in the middle period but as was the case throughout much of the game, the Terriers were able to capitalize on Winkler’s mistakes. The Flyers outshot Portage 11-4 in the period but it was the Terriers who scored the next two goals to take a 4-2 lead just over seven minutes in.

The Flyers found a spark in the final minute when rookie defenseman CJ Corazzin made a nice move around the Portage defense and tucked in his second of the season to cut the visitor’s lead to 4-3 just 20 seconds before intermission.

In the third period, the Flyers nearly doubled the Terriers in shots again, but as was the case in the second it was the visitors who would tack on two more to skate away with a 6-3 win.

Troy Martyniuk took the loss in goal as the Flyers outshot Portage 32-24. Winkler went 0-for-2 on the power-play and 1-for-1 on the penalty-kill.

The Flyers (17-8-0) will hit the road for a three game weekend road trip starting Friday night in Neepawa. The Flyers will also visit Dauphin and Swan Valley on Saturday and Sunday. All three games can be heard live on County 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com with Matt Friesen’s pregame show getting underway five minutes prior to puck drop.

GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS

1ST STAR – F RYAN SOKOLOSKI (PORTAGE)

2ND STAR – D KAIN STEVENSON (PORTAGE)

3RD STAR – D CJ CORAZZIN (WINKLER)

GAME STATS