ANAVET EVEN AT ONE

The Best-of-Seven Anavet Cup series is all tied up at a game a piece, as the MJHL’s Portage Terriers picked up a 4-3 overtime win at home in Saturday’s Game 2.

The script started out much the same as Game 1, as Portage led 2-0 after the first period, and while it was Jared Roy scoring both goals on Friday, this time it was Scott Mickoski notching a pair in the opening 20.

Friday night saw the Stars chip away and win it in the final minute of regulation.  This time they took the lead much earlier but saw Portage score in the dying seconds to force overtime.

Owen Lamb got the North Stars on the board just 30 seconds into the second period with his first of the Anavet Cup, and Austin Becker tied things up at the 7:41 mark.  Defenseman Noah Form (1g-1a) gave the Stars their first lead of the night 9:50 into the second period, and North Stars were less than a minute away from taking a 2-0 series lead home, when Orca Wiesblatt (1g-1a)brought the Terriers even yet again with 45 seconds left on the clock.

Kolton Shindle scored with 3:07 left in the first overtime to tie the series up 1-1.  Ethan Petersen made his first start in goal for Portage since Game 5 of the MJHL final in Swan Valley, and he made 27/30 saves to pick up the win.  16-year-old Portage defenseman Owen Murray had three assists on the night.

Battlefords goalie Joel Gryzbowski lost a start for the first time since Game 2 of the Canalta Cup final against Melfort, but certainly pulled his own weight making 37/41 saves.

The Stars are now assured three home games in as many nights, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday night, followed consecutively on Wednesday and Thursday.  If neither club sweeps the three game set, they’ll head 850 KM back to Portage la Prairie again next weekend, where a potential Game 6 & 7 are set for next Sunday and Monday (May 5th & 6th).